SMC is involved in an Ipswich City Council initiative to promote active travel to school. The impact of active travel on our students is huge, and the Ipswich City Council have incentives running, such as prizes for participation. 

As part of our Healthy Active School Transport initiative, we officially launched our Walking School Bus!

The Walking School Bus is now running every Wednesday. Walking has a wonderful impact on our students. Meet with us at Redbank Community Centre on School road from 8am to join in the fun!

Information about the initiative:

A recent Australian Health Survey tells us that less than half of our children are exercising enough. So what is it that’s stopping our kids?

Computer games, TV, video games, mobile phones, lifts, escalators, remote controls, automatic garage doors, internet shopping, home delivery of take-away fast foods?

Did you know children should not spend more than two hours a day using electronic media for entertainment (e.g. computer games, TV, Internet), particularly during daylight hours.

Children aged 5-12 years should be doing at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity each day. Moderate intensity means the activity requires some effort with increased breathing but still able to speak easily. Moderate activity could be fast walking, riding a bike. Vigorous Intensity requires more effort and your children should be huffing and puffing. Vigorous intensity activities can include running, chasing and many organised sports. 

As parents and carers of young children, it is important we encourage healthy behaviours in everyday life and foster a culture that allows children to be physically active. You can help children be physically active by ‘pressing pause’ and setting time limits on sedentary activities like computer games and television.

We are a healthy active travel school, our top 5 ways to get active are:   

• Park, walk and /or ride the rest of the way
• Get on your bike, ride to school
• Use your feet, walk to school
• Jump on board, catch public transport
• Walk or ride to school events

To find out more about the physical activity requirements of our children, go to www.health.gov.au