Children at the small Halfmoon Bay School on Stewart Island are really lucky. Not only is the island a safe place to walk to school but they also have a stunning background for their morning stroll.
Many of the children walk through native bush tracks and along the Island’s beautiful coastline to get to Halfmoon Bay School each morning.
The children are positive about the experience.
Five-year-old George likes taking shortcuts through the bush, while nine-year-old Henry says it’s good to get fresh air. “Walking to school in the morning wakes you up,” he says.
For five-year-old Kyla it’s all about the scenery.
“I like to see nice and pretty stuff like flowers and trees and I like to chase the seagulls when I’m walking,” she says.
“And I like to keep fit and there’s lots of beautiful nature to see,” says nine-year-old Manoj.
Their sentiments are echoed by sole charge Principal Kath Johnson. She says over half of the 14 children at the school regularly walk or ride their bikes to school.
“We just encourage the kids to walk to school. Some unfortunately live too far away, but for the others it helps their independence and encourages fitness.
“It also gives them a general appreciation of their environment.”
To learn more about these and other children walking to school, and the free classroom resources available, go to the New Zealand Transport Agency’s Feetfirst programme at www.feetfirst.govt.nz.
