This is the September 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
Team Leader Dinner and Training September 8th
International Walk to School Day is October 8th
Back to School PowerPoint Presentation Available
Street Smarts Launches in Three Cities
Book Your Assembly Today
Sample Newsletter Announcement
SEPTEMBER'S CALENDAR
EVENTS
Team Leader Dinner
Monday, September 8, 6 p.m. (7:30 new team leader training)
San Rafael Community Center
612 B Street, San Rafael
International Walk to School Day
Wednesday, October 8
TASK FORCE MEETINGS
Dixie Task Force
Wednesday, September 10, 7 p.m.
Miller Creek Library
2255 Las Galinas Road, San Rafael
Novato Task Force Meeting
Thursday, September 11, 7 p.m.
Location to be determined
Mill Valley Task Force
Thursday, September 18, 9:15 a.m.
Mill Valley School District
4511 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley
Ross Valley Task Force
Friday, September 19, 10 a.m.
Ross Valley School District Office
110 Shaw Drive, San Anselmo
Team Leader Dinner and Training September 8
All school team leaders are invited to the Safe Routes to Schools kick-off dinner on Monday, September 8th at 6 pm at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street in San Rafael. A delicious dinner catered by Chad’s will be provided. Following will be presentations and discussions of SR2S’s new programs and plans for International Walk to School Day October 8th. At 7:30 p.m. new team leaders will be given an orientation and the opportunity for individual support. To attend please contact Laura at 456-3469 ext 2# or email laura@marinbike.org.
International Walk to School Day is October 8
Join 40 countries and millions of people in celebrating the 9th annual International Walk to School Day on October 8th, 2008. All schools in Marin are invited to participate by organizing events and encouraging their students and parents to leave the car at home that day and walk or bike instead. If you live too far to walk all the way, then consider parking ¼ miles from school and walking the rest of the way. Marin’s Safe Routes to Schools program will be providing support for schools that want to participate. We have posters and magnets to give away, plus a templates for stickers and a flyer that you can edit with information about your school.
You can learn how to organize an event by going to our Walk and Roll Guidebook at: http://www.saferoutestoschools.org/Forms/WalkandRollGuide2006.pdf
You can pick up materials at our Team Leader dinner on September 8th (see item above) or contact Peggy at 456-3469 ext 6# or email peggy@marinbike.org.
Back to School PowerPoint Presentation Available
A new two minute Back to School PowerPoint presentation is available that encourages parents to walk or bike to school with fun images and music. The PowerPoint can be shown at Back to School night, PTA meetings or any gathering of parents at your school. You can get a copy via email or on disk by contacting Laura at 456-3469 ext. 2# or email laura@marinbike.org.
STREET SMARTS Launches in Three Cities
The Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) and three communities have officially launched the STREET SMARTS MARIN program. This public education campaign is designed to target unsafe behaviors by drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.
STREET SMARTS addresses traffic problems at their source—in the minds of drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. It brings education to the equation by supplementing traffic safety efforts involving engineering and enforcement. It works on many levels through outdoor advertising and the press, community events, school activities and discussions, neighborhood initiatives, corporate sponsorships and more.
Three communities—Corte Madera, Larkspur, and Mill Valley—are pilot-testing the STREET SMARTS MARIN campaign. Each of these communities is participating in the program through their city management: public works, law enforcement, planning and community services departments. Each of the towns also has an active Safe Routes to Schools Task Force, which is involved in the campaign
Book Your Assembly Today
Pedal Power returns this fall. The popular assembly, which debuted last spring, features a skit on transportation and the environment featuring the Traffic Transformer who saves the choking family from the toxic fumes and congestion of the Traffic Monster. Students from the school are invited to participate in the skit with costumes and rehearsals provided before the assembly. The skit features a song by popular children’s songster, Tim Cain, written especially for SR2S. For an extra fee, Tim will appear in person on his hand powered bicycle to perform the song along with other favorite tunes. To book an assembly contact Peggy@marinbike.org or call 456-3469 ext 6#l.
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Sample Newsletter Announcement
Start promoting Walk to School Day in your school newsletter. Here is a sample announcement:
______(Enter your school’s name)______ has set a goal this year to encourage all of our students and their families to bike, walk or carpool to school in efforts to help the environment and reduce traffic in the area. Biking and walking to school is also a great way to keep your child physically fit – all year long. Please join us in celebrating International Walk to School Day on October 8th where we will be joining 40 countries and millions of people around the world who will also be walking or biking to school. If you live a far distance from school, then consider parking ¼ of a mile from school, and then walking the rest of the way with your child. So ditch your car, and walk or bike to
school with your child Wednesday, October 8th, 2008. Create a childhood memory that they will never forget.
Safe Routes to Schools is looking for volunteers to assist in this event and to lead and organize meeting points for active neighborhoods to walk and bike together. If you would like to assist in motivating and leading your neighborhood to school on International Walk to School Day, please contact ______________ (insert your name and phone number).
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:
Project Coordinator:
Laura Kelly
415-456-3469 ext. 2#
laura@marinbike.org
For information on
school classes:
Project Coordinator
for Logistics:
Peggy Clark
415-456-3469 ext 6#
peggy@marinbike.org
