This is the March issue of the Marin Safe Routes to Schools ENewsletter. This newsletter provides you with monthly updates of the Marin Safe Routes to Schools program, including highlights of the month.
Highlights of the Month
Teens interview John Francis the Planet Walker
Valentine’s Day Luncheon for Team Leaders
Seven Schools Sign up for Pedal Power Assembly
White Hill Students Win Design Contest for Assembly Set
Spring Newsletter Hits the Streets
Mill Valley SchoolPool Map Goes on Web Site
Sign Up for Bike Club
MARCH'S CALENDAR
San Rafael Task Force Meeting Kick Off
Wednesday, March 5, 4–5:30 p.m.
Venetia Valley School
177 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael
Mill Valley Task Force
Thursday, March 11, 11 a.m.
Sewer Agency of Southern Marin Conference room
450 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley
Novato Task Force Meeting
Thursday, March 13, 7 p.m.
Novato Unified School District
1015 7th Street, Novato
Dixie Task Force
Thursday, April 17, 7 p.m.
Miller Creek Library (To be confirmed)
2255 Las Galinas Road, San Rafael
Ross Valley Task Force
Friday, April 18, 10 a.m.
Ross Valley School District Office
110 Shaw Drive, San Anselmo
Twin Cities (Corte Madera and Larkspur) Task Force
Tuesday, April 29, 3:15 pm
Larkspur Recreation Dept.
240 Doherty Drive, Larkspur
Back to the top
Teens interview John Francis the Planet Walker
Two teenagers heavily involved in Safe Routes and working on the assembly program, interviewed Dr. John Francis. Dr. Francis is known as the Planet Walker since he walked the planet for 22 years without using motorized vehicles at all. The two teen interviewers – Paris Dowd (8th grader at White Hill) and Anna Garfink (9th grader at Drake High) used questions developed by other teenagers from White Hill, Miller Creek, and Hall middle schools. They delivered an absolutely wonderful and professional interview. They heard about the vow of silence Dr. Francis took that started as a one day commitment on his birthday, and then went on to last 17 years. Dr. Francis gave both teens a signed copy of his soon to be re-published book, The Planet Walker. The teens were impressed, not only by the deeds John Francis had accomplished, but also by his humble, easy-going nature and inspiring words. Dr. Francis’ advice about the most important thing we can do for the environment? Be good to each other, and true to our authentic selves.
Special thanks to GordyO Productions for assisting with the video taping. Photo: Paris and Anna with John Francis.
Valentine’s Day Luncheon for Team Leaders
Thirty Team leaders were treated to a Valentine’s luncheon on February 13 with food catered by the Good Earth Natural Foods in Fairfax and Valentine hearts from Chocolate Delights of San Anselmo. Each team leader also received a colorful, custom designed Valentine thank you card for their hard work with Safe Routes to School. The parent volunteers were given instructions on how to implement the spring contest and were then treated to a preview of a new assembly program. The response to the assembly was overwhelming. They provided positive feedback and many team leaders requested information on how to get the assembly in their school.
Seven Schools Sign up for Pedal Power Assembly
Seven schools have signed up for the new Pedal Power Assembly and more are looking at ways to fit it into their schools’ busy schedules. In the skit, a mother and her children are stuck in traffic, with chaos surrounding them ... horns are blasting, kids are bored, nerves are frayed, and frustrations mount. The family begins choking on fumes created by a Pollution Monster, who is feeding the car with his pals, Gas and Oil. Eventually, the parent and children leave the beastly vehicle and follow a magical bicyclist through a passage into a world of peace and beauty where cars do not exist. In this new world, there is no pollution because so many people walk and bike together to get to places. The cast sings a song about biking and walking, which was composed by Tim Cain for Safe Routes to Schools this year. The family celebrates their newfound freedom and joy, independence and friendship with nature. To sign up for the assembly contact Laura@marinbike.org
Thanks to those who assisted in the creation of the assembly including costume designers: Monique Kunst, Mundi Gove, and Lou Goodwin; set construction/painting: John Reed, Dominique Sperry, and Andrew Meadows; playwrite Editors: Andrea Hart and Susan Pearlstone; and to Joe Breeze or Breezer Bikes, who loaned a folding bike. A special recognition goes to Gwen Froh, who has been our director and program coordinator for the assembly.
White Hill Students Win Assembly Set Design Contest
Congratulations to White Hill students Estelle Comstock and Ellie Cope who won the design contest for the Pedal Power assembly! Their work is now being reproduced as background sets for the assembly. Estelle designed a beautiful nature scene with a colorful bicyclist in the foreground. Ellie designed an ominous abstract of pollution.
Spring Newsletter Hits the Streets
Safe Routes News, our spring print newsletter, is now available. Stories include our youngest participants in the program from San Anselmo Preschool, an interview with Bill Gamlen who in charge of crossing guards for the Transportation Authority of Marin, and a sneak peek at the Sun Valley SchoolPool directory. See the highlights from October’s International Walk to School Day and learn how a Fairfax community is getting traffic to slow down. If you have a good distribution spot for the newsletter contact Heather@marinbike.org . You can view the newsletter online here.
Back to the top
Mill Valley SchoolPool Map Goes on Web Site
The Safe Routes to School program is proud to announce the creation of its first district-wide SchoolPool directory. This school year, as part of the Extended SchoolPool Program, Mill Valley School District is piloting SchoolPool on a district basis. Families were asked in the District Directory database updating process to "opt in" if they were interested in being contacted by other families to SchoolPool (walk, bike, carpool to school together). Safe Routes delineated the Mill Valley neighborhoods and numbered and mapped them using geographic information system (GIS) technology. The District Directory designer (Jonathan Schwartz, Exit 445 Group) integrated the neighborhood numbers into the directory after each student and family listing. Families are encouraged through promotions to find and contact each other using the District Directory.
Information on the Mill Valley SchoolPool Program and Map is available here.
Sign Up for Bike Club
There is still room in the spring bike club starting April 2 for children in 4th through 6th grade. Learn how bicycling provides both freedom and responsibility. Students will learn how to “drive” their bikes safely on the road. Club classes will cover basic safety procedures, proper equipment, bike maintenance, and trip planning. Students will plan a final field trip as part of the class. The class is offered by Safe Routes to Schools through the San Anselmo Recreation Department and will take place Wednesdays, at 2:20 pm starting April 2, 2008 at White Hill School in Fairfax and will run for 8 weeks. For more information, contact laura@marinbike.org. To sign up for the club, call 258-4680.
Back to the top
Safe Routes to Schools
is a program of the
Transportation Authority
of Marin
3501 Civic Center Dr.
San Rafael, CA 94913
www.tam.ca.gov
Project Manager:
David Parisi
415-388-8978
david@
parisi-associates.com
For general
information
on the Safe Routes
program:
Program Director:
Wendi Kallins
415-488-4101
wendi@marinbike.org
For information on
school activities
and classes:
Project Coordinator:
Laura Kelly
415-456-3469 ext. 2#
laura@marinbike.org
