Safe Routes Champions of the Year!

 Due to their outstanding energy, creativity, love, and dedication, SRTS Parent Champions Steve Campbell, Kendall  Hamilton and Michelle Stevens at Westchester Elementary, aka the Bike Dudes, are Metro Atlanta Champions of the Year!

The three school Parent Champions at Westchester Elementary (aka the Bike Dudes) are full of energy and exude that energy to increase walking participation at the school. Westchester is located along a state route that sees a lot of traffic, along which many cars are speeding. Parents in the past have been afraid to allow their children to walk or bike to school. In the past few years that they have been the school champions they have come up with a route that takes students away from the state route and goes along a path behind the school. On walk days, each child is greeted by the “team” who are dressed for the occasion. Michelle has a stuffed animal, a wolf which is the school’s mascot, attached to her helmet. The others are also decked out. Each child who walks to school receives a marble that is then put into a clear cylinder. If the number of marbles reaches a certain line, the school receives 15 minutes of extra recess on Friday.

On Ga Walk & Roll Day and International Walk to School Day the school consistently has at least 60% participation.

They dress up and do skits at the community circles held on Friday mornings to encourage the students to participate. They are there to greet the students at the door not only on the “special” days, but at each month’s walk and roll day. For the Christmas holiday walk and roll, they had Santa and Mrs. Claus visit and be part of the skit at the community circle. The children were thrilled!”

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