Local News
FDL School District Participates In Bike To School Day Wednesday
Bike to School Day throughout the Fond du Lac School District will take place on Wednesday, May 7, 2014.
Not long ago, walking or biking to school was the norm. Over the past 30 years, the percentage of children biking and walking to school has declined from 50% or more to closer to about 15% currently. Today, parents drive as many as 50% of children traveling to school. School bus trips account for an increasing share of the remainder. The purpose of Bike to School Day is to start to reverse these trends.
This event provides an opportunity to bring parents, children and community members together to experience the fun and health benefit of biking to school. “The healthy habits students learn at an early age can last forever and lead to a fun, safe, and healthy activity throughout their lives. This activity is a great way to promote healthy habits,” shared Marian Sheridan, School Health and Safety Program Coordinator.
Bike to School Day energizes parents and children reminding them of the simple joy of biking to school. It also serves as an opportunity to focus on the importance of physical activity, safety, air quality and building bicycle and pedestrian friendly neighborhoods.
Below are a few tips to keep your family safe while biking:
Always wear a helmet as they greatly reduce the risk of serious injury in the event of a crash.
Wear bright colored or reflective clothing which makes you more visible to drivers.
Always ride on the right side of the road with traffic, never ride your bike against traffic.
It is important to make sure you obey all traffic laws such as stopping at stop signs etc.
Use extra caution when riding near parked cars, a driver or passenger door might open causing a collision.
By following these simple tips it will help to ensure a safe and enjoyable biking experience for you and your family. Join us on May 7th as we Bike to School to promote physical activity, safety and a cleaner environment. All students in Grades K-2 need to be accompanied by their parents and students in Grades 3-5 can ride without parental supervision, although parents are more than welcome to join the riders. Please see a listing of what the schools plan to do below. To learn more about the District’s Bike to School Day contact Marian Sheridan at 920-906-6548.
Chegwin Elementary School staff members are meeting students at two locations (parking area in front of Agnesian HealthCare hospital and U.S. Bank parking lot) and riding to school with them. Students who ride their bikes to school and wear a helmet will have their name into a drawing for prizes.
Evans Elementary School children are invited to meet at 7:45 a.m. at Taylor Park to ride as a group with several teachers to Evans School. All children who ride their bikes will have an opportunity to win one of the prizes. Children who wear a bike helmet will be given an additional entry in the prize drawing.
Lakeshore students will be meeting at the park-and-ride by 151 and the Shell gas station at 8:00 AM. Adults are encouraged to ride with their children. All kindergartners and first graders need to be accompanied by an adult or a fifth grade student. We will be riding our bikes to Lakeshore on the nature trail and then meeting in the gymnasium to draw prizes.
Parkside Elementary School will be meeting at three locations: Arndt and Peters, Arndt and Seymour, Arndt and Hickory. Teachers will be there at 7:40 a.m. and leaving their locations to head to school for breakfast at 7:43. (Breakfast starts at 7:45) Students that bike to school will have the opportunity to sign our Bike to School banner and have their name entered in a drawing for the raffle prizes. Parents/adults will also be invited to sign the banner. Names of participating students will be drawn throughout the day until all prizes are gone. If students are accompanied by a parent/adult to bike or walk with them while they bike they get their name in the bucket two times!!
Pier Elementary School’s staff will meet students at three locations at 7:45. One group will meet at the corners of Nakoma and Mequon (behind Theisen). Another group will meet at the Fire Station on Main St. near Gilles; and the third group will meet at Danbury Park. We encourage all students to participate; however, students must be in third grade or up to make the ride without a parent or guardian. All students that ride to school will have an opportunity to win some amazing prizes such as a bike helmet, t-shirt, water bottle, or Subway gift card. Students wearing a helmet will have double the chances to win.
Riverside will meet at Franklin Park at 7:45 a.m. and will bike to school. Students will get to put their name in the drawing for door prizes once for riding their bike, and a second time if they wear a helmet.
Roberts School students are invited to join their teachers and principal for the annual Bike To School Day at 7:45 a.m. We will have two starting spots, one at the east and one on the west sides of our attendance area: National and Glenwood or Park and 3rd Street. The whole family is invited! To promote our Bike to School Day, all students who bike and wear a helmet that day will have their name put into a special drawing and they may win a bike helmet, a T-shirt, water bottle, or Subway Gift card!
Rosenow Elementary School students are invited to ride their bikes to school on their own or with a parent. Participants will receive raffle tickets throughout the week (double on Wednesday) and an additional ticket for wearing a helmet when they arrive at school. The tickets will be put in a drawing for prizes. Bike safety will also be covered in all gym classes.
STEM Academy and STEM Institute plan staff to meet at Veteran’s Park (corner of 4th/Western and Main) at 7:30 a.m. to bike to school. Names of the students who participate will be entered into a drawing for prizes.
Waters School staff will be biking to school from two locations with Waters families. Please meet at 7:45 a.m. at either Jefferson Park or the Dutch Gap. All students who ride their bike to school will receive a chance to win a prize. Students who wear safety gear will earn an extra chance at winning a prize.
Sabish Middle School staff members will be meeting students at three locations: the Taylor Park Shelter, in front of Parkside Elementary, and in front of Evans Elementary School to ride with interested students. Please plan to leave those locations shortly after 7:30 a.m. All students who ride their bike to school should meet in the gym at 7:45 a.m. for prizes. All Sabish bikers will be entered into a drawing for prizes and those wearing a helmet will be guaranteed a prize!
Theisen Middle School will be promoting this event via announcement and in classrooms. Students are invited to join Theisen staff members at one of three locations to “ride to school together”: Pier Elementary, Fond du Lac Fair Grounds, and Danbury Park. We will honor every student and staff member who rides a bike this day, with a prize (which will be done in drawing format). Pictures from the event will be posted on the school’s webpage.
Woodworth Middle School’s Principal Mr. Hill, Mr. Steinbarth, and Mrs. King, as well as other staff will be meeting students in the shelter at McDermott Park on East Johnson at 7:20 a.m. Please remember to wear your helmet. Any students that bike to school that day with the school staff or on another route will be given a ticket that will be entered into a drawing for the chance to win prizes!