Marin County Safe Routes to Schools
Team Leader Newsletter
March 2005

TEAM LEADER UPDATES

1.. April is Environmental Month
2.. Sign up for Environmental Classes
3.. Get Ready for Frequent Rider Miles (FRM)
4.. Promote FRM through a Yikes! Assembly
5.. Youth Earth Day Event on April 24
6.. Thanks to Supportive Businesses
7.. Featured School - Miller Creek

TEAM LEADER UPDATES

1.. April is Environmental Month

At the end of this month, change your posters from "Less Traffic" to "Less Pollution. April is Environmental Month. Use this month to stress the environmental reasons for driving less - less pollution, reduced global warming, and the health risks associated with these issues. Attached please find the Environmental Fact sheet as well as some activities for the kids. You can also download the former version that has different facts on it at http://www.saferoutestoschools.org/pdfs/EnvironmentalTalkingPoints.pdf

2.. Sign up for Environmental Classes

Help students make the connection between their transportation choices and the environment! Safe Routes to Schools instructors can come to your school during Earth Week from April 18- 22nd to teach the following special classes. If you are interested in a class at your school, call or e-mail Melanie at 456-3469 ext. 5# or Melanie@marinbike.org.

Greenhouse in a Bottle (5th grade)

Greenhouse in a Bottle is a science demonstration that simulates the earth's environment before and after the greenhouse effect. Safe Routes to Schools uses the excitement of a hands-on experiment to help students see and discuss how their transportation choices directly effect the environment.

Family Mouse Behind the Wheel (Kindergarten & 1st grade)

Gather students 'round to hear a fable with an environmental message. Family Mouse Behind the Wheel tells the story of road construction and how the animals of the forest abandon their automobiles in favor of preserving their forest home in its natural state.

3.. Get Ready for Frequent Rider Miles (FRM)

Frequent Rider Miles officially starts April 4th although some schools have started sooner and others are starting later. Now is the time to start promoting the contest. Send out the flyers that you were provided and then pass out the cards the week before your contest's start date. If you have volunteer help, it's best to go to each classroom and explain the contest. If not, you can explain it in the newsletter or as part of a regular assembly. Please let me know who would like raffle tickets and we will get them to you. Still no word yet on when the Trek prizes will arrive; this happens every year and they always get here, so not to worry. Those of you who missed the Team Leader training, feel free to give Wendi a call to get more tips on running the contest at 488-4101 or email herat wendi@marinbike.org.

4.. Promote FRM through a Yikes! Assembly

The Yikes! Assembly is a brief 10 to 15 minute pep rally and skit that covers the four fantastic reasons to walk and bike to school and a few simple ways to stay safe when children are bicycling. This is a great way to promote the Frequent Rider Miles contest. Yikes (our very own Melanie), a colorful "superhero" arrives with a trick rider to introduce the Four Fantastic Reasons to Walk and Ride. (We use an actual BMX bike rider). The Safe Routes Instructor arrives on the scene to remind the two enthusiastic bike riders that they can still have fun and be safe at the same time.

This assembly program is a great way to remind schoolchildren about being safe as more students are on their bikes during this beautiful spring weather. This assembly program is most suitable for K-4th graders and can occur either in the gym or on the black top. To schedule an assembly, contact Melanie at Melanie@marinbike.org or 456-3469 x 5#.

5.. Youth Earth Day Event on April 24

On Sunday, April 24, upwards of 1,000 people will join Marin County's Earth Day 2005 celebration at the College of Marin. The all-day event will feature a full lineup of hands-on activities and entertainment with a special emphasis on families, children and teens. Entertainment will include everything from high school talents in music, dance and poetry to professional acrobatics, musicians and jugglers.

Activities for families and teens will offer real opportunities to get dirty, get involved, and get inspired. The day kicks off with our very own Ride n' Seek - a Rolling Treasure Hunt which allows families to explore the safe bike paths while finding the hidden treasures of Marin. This is followed by workshops teaching people how to make real change in their community by fostering better nutrition, growing organic food, making better transportation choices, and greening our homes, businesses and schools. In addition, activities celebrating the concept of reuse and recycling will offer craft and public art opportunities for the whole family throughout the day. Community members will also have the chance to participate in discussions and service activities throughout the entire weekend.

This event is produced by Next Generation, Safe Routes to Schools (a project of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition), the Marin food Systems Project (a project of the Environmental Education Council of Marin), and the Marin Conservation Corp, in conjunction with the City of San Rafael City Volunteer Program and the Environmental Film Festival of Marin. The week before the festival, each of the event's four sponsoring organizations will offer in-the-classroom presentations around Marin County, as well as community-based events. For more information or to volunteer please contact Melanie at Melanie@marinbike.org or 456-3469 x 5#.

6.. Thanks to Supportive Businesses

The smell and taste of Extreme Pizza is now the main lure for the students of the new Miller Creek Middle School Transportation Club. Many thanks to Extreme Pizza for supplying two large pizzas for club meetings twice a month. Please visit them or order a pizza today at 703 4th Street in San Rafael, or call them for a delivery at 454-6111.

Dol Activewear, a local home business that makes fabulous skirts and snazzy leg and arm warmers for biking has designed the new Yikes! costume. Due to owner and designer Dolores's fantastic sense of style and skill, Yikes! will be sporting a new costume with orange and turquoise leg warmers and reflective gear. You will remain at the head of the pack in style with the great styles of Dol Activewear. Contact Dolores for an appointment at 482-8499 or dolocom@hotmail.com

7.. Featured School - Miller Creek

A new club has started up at Miller Creek Middle School in North San Rafael with the motto, "It's not that Hard, It's not that Far, Just Bike It!"

Students at the Miller Creek Middle School are ready to make a difference. With the help of Mike Schulist, an 8th great science teacher, students have been meeting twice a month to strategize on how to get their peers to bike and walk to school. Students have worked with Melanie, our Safe Routes to Schools Education Coordinator, to uncover the real environmental and social costs of driving. Plans are to host three walk to school days and motivate students to try walking and biking through raffles, assembly presentations, in the classroom announcements and colorful, fun displays around the school. Can they reduce traffic at their school? - stay tuned and find out!!

Thank you for your leadership in your community! For more information please contact Wendi Kallins, Safe Routes to Schools Program Director at (415) 488-4101 or wendi@marinbike.org

Safe Routes to Schools is a program funded by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and administered by the County of Marin on behalf of the Transportation Authority of Marin and the County, Cities and Towns of Marin.