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Health & Fitness

Oak Elementary Claims Greenest School Title

 

Green Town Los Altos 2013 Drive Less Challenge is history. This year’s new format encouraged community members to review their transportation habits and make a personal pledge to use green alternatives for some or all of their trips to work, school or about town. Over 170 individuals pledged to drive less over the two-week period, a 15% increase over last year’s event. Over 60% of those reporting said that they had met or exceeded their pledge goals and many plan to continue using their newfound green transportation modes.

 

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Challenge participants celebrated their accomplishments at a Bike to Work Day party held at the Costume Bank. Prizes donated by local businesses were awarded, tasty snacks were noshed, and all had a fantastic time. By the number of bikes seen around town, parked at the Y, and at the farmer’s market bike valet, it seems that the green trend is catching on!

This year the Challenge took on a new twist. Green Town organizers recruited parents and schoolchildren in the district to compete for the title of Greenest Elementary and Greenest Middle Schools. Parent volunteers who are members of the Green Town Walk or Wheels (WoW) team helped get the word out to and increase participation by our youngsters.

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Some Wow parents offered incentives like hot chocolate or lemonade to kids who walked, cycled, scootered or drove in carpools. Volunteers at Loyola and Almond were very successful with organizing bike trains. Most notably, the Loyola elementary population, who face safety challenges crossing busy Foothill Expressway, organized a 40-student bike train that utilized a well thought out safe route down Magdalena and across Foothill to Berry Ave. Loyola parent efforts paid off as WoW participation was up 10% over previous counts winning them the “Most Improved School” award.

A final award went to the school with the highest parental participation in the Drive Less Challenge. Gardner Bullis took the honors.

Congratulations to all who participated for a job well done! A special thank you goes out to all the dedicated parents who encourage their children to get exercise daily by Walking or Wheeling to school.

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