Today saw another milestone for Walking Bus with the launch of our first Walking Bus in the Illawarra region in conjunction with Stockland. It was a great success with over 80 students already participating across 3 routes, with special guests The Hawks, local Councillers, local and national media, and many more!
After all the students arrived a special assembly was held with all the school where Walking Bus enrolled students received a special medallion, volunteers were given gifts, the school was presented with a plaque, and a huge Walking Bus cake was cut by the School Captains!
What a fantastic way to launch this amazing program at Dapto Public School!
Visit The Hawks Website to read all about the launch and to watch a video of this morning!

This week the Easter Bunny made a surprise visit to Walking Bus schools!

All the children were delighted to see the Easter Bunny wearing his Walking Bus vest!

The Walking Bus would like to thank all volunteers for their continued support this year and wishes everybody a very happy Easter! 

19th - 25th March is International Fitness Week!

The Walking Bus encourages all children and parents to walk as many times as they can during this week to celebrate.

Walking has many health and fitness benefits and walking to and from school is an easy way to incorporate exercise into your daily routine.

Happy Walking!

NSW Commissioner for Children and Young People has recently release a statement encouraging all young people to walk to school through great initatives such as our Walking Bus! The Commissioner states that "Walking promotes good health and fitness so it's an activity the Commission highly recommends for children of all ages...'Walking buses' and parents doing trial walks or going part of the way with their kids before they venture out on their own, is a great way for children to learn how to confidently move about their neighbourhood independently and safely. There are also positive socialisation benefits when they buddy up with schoolmates."

Read more about what the NSW Commissioner has to say by CLICKING HERE and reading the full article.

A huge welcome to Natalie who joins The Walking Bus team as the Coordinator for Dapto Public School! We look forward to all the amazing work, new Walking Bus Routes, and the new opportunities that will develop at Dapto Public School. Welcome aboard!

A fantastic position is available for a Coordinator of the Walking Bus based in the Dapto region. This paid position is permanent part-time, with the possibility of more hours to come as the program expands.

This role will require flexibility as the work hours may be spread over several days during the week.

This position will ideally suit a parent with children currently attending Dapto Public School and wanting to become more involved in their school community.

The suitable applicant will also be required to start immediately. Ongoing training and support will be provided by the Walking Bus Manager and Connections Staff.

For further information or to apply for this role please visit out website www.connectionscd.com.au/careers

The Walking Bus would like to wish you all a happy and healthy 2012 and welcome families back to the new school year!

All Walking Bus routes will commence operation in week 3 in your school. Please look out for a note to be sent home in week one or two advising of a whole school walk to school day to relaunch the Walking Bus program in 2012.

2012 is going to be a very exciting year for the Walking Bus, with lots of big plans & initiatives and I look forward to all your continued support and participation 

Kellyville Ridge Public School officially launched the new Walking Bus program for the school! What a fantastic way for children to actively and safely get to school! The turn out was fantastic with many new enrolments! 

Enrolments for regular walkers for this route can be completed online by clicking on the “how to join” tab, or alternatively at the school office. If you’d like your children to try the Walking Bus before enrolling they are more than welcome to come along – and don’t forget to have them present their Walking Bus Passport!

Today saw the launch of the latest route at John Palmer Public School, with Volunteer Mum Melissa Toner leading the way! The route starts from the Greenview Parade end of The Ponds Boulevard opposite Watercress Street – please see the route map and timetable for more information!

Enrolments for regular walkers for this route can be completed online by clicking on the “how to join” tab, or alternatively at the school office. If you’d like your children to try the Walking Bus before enrolling they are more than welcome to come along – and don’t forget to have them present their Walking Bus Passport!

Walking Bus is excited to be starting up at Kellyville Ridge Public School on Monday 28 November. We have 2 routes that will be operating. See the attached document with timetable and map of routes.

We are excited to announce that we have a new route will be commencing for the Walking Bus on Monday 21st November, 2011.

The route will start from the Greenview Parade end of The Ponds Boulevard opposite Watercress Street – please see map and timetable below.

Enrolments for regular walkers for this route can be completed online by clicking on the “how to join” tab, or alternatively at the school office.

If you’d like your children to try the Walking Bus before enrolling they are more than welcome to come along – and don’t forget to have them present their Walking Bus Passport!

Walking bus is trialing a "TRY THE WALKING BUS" Passport at John Palmer Public School in November. Children are invited to join the Walking Bus on any of the 3 routes available and will be given a Passport to collect stickers. When They have their Passport fully stamped they can take it to the canteen to redeem an ice block. Come on board and try the Walking Bus! 

The sun was shining as the Walking Bus hosted the second walk to school day for Walktober at John Palmer Primary School. Four routes were run for this special event and over 60 children joined the Walking Bus to school! Louise Payne, Deputy Principal, who is an advocate of the program also walked along with a number of the teaching staff from John Palmer and it was great for the children to see their teachers giving them encouragement! Great walking John Palmer!

Walking Bus hosted a whole school walk to school day to celebrate Walktober which is International Walk to School Month. It was a cold and drizzly morning but we soldiered on and there were a lot of new faces on the Walking Bus, particularly on the Ernest Street route which does not currently operate on a daily basis. Natalie Walker who is our wonderful Volunteer Walker for Parklea walked the Shaun Street route along with over ten children made of up of regular walkers and first time walkers! Well done Parklea!

Walking Bus is excited to announce a third route starting for John Palmer Primary School starting from Monday at Whitewood Crescent! The route will operate Monday, Thursday and Friday mornings and afternoons.

The Carindale bus route has had a timetable change and will operate Tuesdays and Fridays - mornings and afternoons - from cnr Stanhope Parkway and Mallard St and Wednesday - mornings and afternoons - starting at Carindale St.

Check the John Palmer bus route page for current times and bus stops of each bus route.

We are excited to announce that we are trialing a new Walking Bus route at John Palmer Public School. Commencing Tuesday 18 October, the new route will commence at the corner of Carindale Street and The Ponds Boulevard. The route will only be operating mornings, Tuesday to Friday.

Please see the attached PDF for a map and timetable of Walking Bus routes at John Palmer Public School.

October is the International Walk to School Month (Walktober) and the Walking Bus is hosting whole school walk to school days to celebrate.

It's a great way to try the Walking Bus and find out what its all about.

Look out for information in your school newsletter or email lynda.hobden@walkingbus.co m.au

The Spring 2011 Walking Bus Volunteers Newsletter is now available! Feel free to download it from the PDF link below!

In the newsletter you'll find all the latest news, updates, and information about what's been happening in the Walking Bus!

A special assembly was held at John Palmer Public School to celebrate 2 years of the Walking Bus. Current students walking on the Walking Bus were presented with a certificte and gift courtesy of Connections Community Development.

The Walking Bus at John Palmer Public School was launched on Monday 31 August 2009 to a great success, with a Celebration Day assembly held on Monday 21 September 2009 to commemorate this fantastic new program.

At todays assembly Walking Bus Lynda Hobden announced that a new route along the Southern part of The Ponds Boulevard would commence in Term 4. Email Lynda Hobden at lynda.hobden@walkingbus.com.a u for more information.

The Walking Bus recently made headlines with the Walk To School day held in several schools through the north-west! to view simply download the attached PDF from the below link! If you would like any more information on the fantastic work being done in The Walking Bus, or would like help in setting up new routes or a new Walking Bus in your local school, feel free to contact the Walking Bus Manager, Lynda, at lynda.h obden@walkingbus.com.au.

As it was "Walk To Work" week, The Walking Bus held "Walk To School" days at a number of local schools, including John Palmer and Parklea Public Schools, encouraging students, parents and teachers alike to walk to school.

This was a great success with severla hundred people taking part at the schools! The Walking Bus is a fantastic initiative, encouraging children to wlak to school along safe routes with trained parent volunteers, promoting healthy lifestyles, exercise, and less congestion around schools.
 

Walking Bus volunteer at John Palmer Public School in the Ponds, Natalie Duggan, has taken great initiative and made a Walking Bus jacket for the family dog, Isha, and Isha joins the Walking Bus on the day that Natalie volunteers.

Isha is pictured with Flynn Bryon, Ella Duggan, volunteer Nicole Westerholm, Elijah Singleton and Tierney Bryon. The photo is taken by Natalie Duggan, who is also a photographer.

The Walking Bus is a fantastic, safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly way for children to get to school! The Walking Bus initiative is currently operating in many schools and is looking to be involved in your area!

If you would like to see The Walking Bus become involved in your child's school, or would like to see new Walking Bus routes established in your school where it is currently operating, then feel free to contact Lynda, The Walking Bus Manager, at lynda.h obden@walkingbus.com.au for more information.

We have the privilege of welcoming Lynda Hobden to our team! Lynda comes on board as the new Walking Bus Manager. If you would like any further information on The Walking Bus, routes currently operating at your local schools, or would like help in establishing a Walking Bus route in your area, then feel free to contact Lynda at lynda.hobden@walkingbus.com.au and she will get back to you with the relevant information.