This is the May 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
Middle School Assembly Gets Rave Reviews
A Blustery Ride n’ Seek a Success
Spring Contests Filling the Bike Racks
Final Team Leader Luncheon May 19
Rodeo Season Has Begun
Drake Teens to Ride to the Movies
MAY'S CALENDAR
EVENT
Team Leader Spring Luncheon
Monday, May 19, 11:00 a.m.
San Rafael Community Center
612 B Street, San Rafael
TASK FORCE MEETINGS
Novato Task Force Meeting
Wednesday, May 8, 7 p.m.
Novato Unified School District
1015 7th Street, Novato
Ross Valley Task Force
Friday, May 16, 10 a.m.
Ross Valley School District Office
110 Shaw Drive, San Anselmo
Mill Valley Task Force
Thursday, May 22, 9:15 a.m.
Sewer Agency of Southern Marin Conference room
450 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley
Dixie Task Force
Thursday, May 22, 7 p.m.
Miller Creek Library
2255 Las Galinas Road, San Rafael
Middle School Assembly gets Rave Reviews
Students at White Hill and Miller Creek Middle Schools roundly applauded an entertaining and educational skit on the benefits of walking and biking to school put on by the Safe Routes to Schools clubs at each school. Students from the club played roles exploring why walking and biking is great for the environment and their health, while addressing barriers that keep kids from doing it. The skit was accompanied by contemporary music and a dynamic PowerPoint presentation. Both schools used the assembly to launch their contests to encourage more walking and biking to school. The assembly now moves to Hall Middle School in May. Any middle school interested in the assembly for the fall can contact aviva@marinbike.org.
A Blustery Ride n’ Seek a Success
A harsh wind blowing off the bay didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of participants for Ride ‘n Seek, a rolling treasure hunt at Pickleweed Park on Saturday, April 19. Thirty-four teams of 2-5 people searched for clues on foot or by bike to learn the treasures of the Canal Community. "It was really fun," Michael Buckley of Sausalito told the Marin Independent Journal. "We learned about birds, wildlife and general ecology. It was a great event for Earth Day," he said. Buckley and his family took third place in the bicycling event. The winners on bikes were Sarah Leipsic and her family who won a gift basket from Trader Joes and other prizes. Darry Ellsworth Yon and her two twins won first place in the walking competition and won a $100 gift certificate from Safeway.
Thanks to all the prize sponsors including Trader Joes, Safeway, YMCA, Kaiser Permanente, The Marin Center, Craig’s Warehouse, Dharma Trading Company, Picante, Borders Books, Three Ring Cycles, Fresh Choice, Silver Screen Video and the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Thanks to Canal Gardens and Trails project for helping to organize the event.
Spring Contests Filling the Bike Racks
Spring contests are underway in 35 schools across Marin from elementary through high schools. Schools are reporting a marked increase in students walking and biking to school as a result of the contests. Both the Pollution Punch Card Contest and Frequent Rider Miles reward kids for choosing a green alternative with instant rewards when they complete a card. They are then entered into a raffle to win more valuable prizes. Many of the older students have designed their own contests. A special bike giveaway is planned for June 14 at Vallecito School. Kaiser Permanente has donated funds to purchase the prize bikes offered at cost from Marin Bikes.
Final Team Leader Luncheon May 19
The final Team Leader luncheon will take place May 19, at 11:30 am at the San Rafael Community Center. We will use this time to review the year, evaluate the program and discuss plans for the next school year. All team leaders in attendance will have a chance to win some of the left over raffle prizes from the spring contest. New volunteers who are helping with the program are invited to come. For more information contact laura@marinbike.org .
Rodeo Season Begins
Rodeo Season Begins
With good weather upon us, Safe Routes to Schools offers bicycle rodeos to our participating schools. This black top activity helps kids to learn the rules of the road, stop at stop signs, balance and control of their bikes and other valuable skills while having a good time. The rodeos take place at regular P.E. time during school hours. For more information contact laura@marinbike.org .
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Drake Teens to Ride to the Movies
Students of the Rock program at Drake High School will be riding to the movies on Wednesday, May 7. Drake teacher Jasper Thelin’s classes decided to ride their bikes to see Persepolis at the Rafael Theater as their end of the year field trip. Safe Routes to Schools will teach the students safe biking behavior prior to the trip and will assist in organizing and leading it. Police escorts will be requested and bike parking at the theater will be arranged.
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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
