“We were talking about creative ways we might encourage the kids to attend every day and came up with ‘Scoot to School’,” Gowrie Street Primary School assistant principal Tim Davis said.
The program, launched at the start of the year, sees two of the school’s fit and young education support staff start their day on push-scooters, riding the suburban streets that snake through the Gowrie St school zone.
Pied Piper-like, the pair pick up scooting students on the way to school – providing an energetic, safe and “on time” start to the school day.
“We might knock on a few doors to hurry the kids along,” Damon Sanders said, who shares early morning scooting duties with San Soakimi.
“Families are often waiting on the street for us and the children find it good fun.”
Scooters and helmets have been donated by the community and the program is open to all 200-plus students at Gowrie St, from Foundation to Year 6.
Older, responsible riders are appointed to help Damon and San ensure a safe and orderly journey is had each day.
Mr Davis said the program was not only effective in delivering students to school, but was providing important insights into how the school community was travelling.
“We know early on who might be unwell, or which families might need some extra support,” he said.
Close engagement with families is important for Gowrie St, which serves a very diverse school community.
“We have a great responsibility in helping families set up those positive school routines early, so our students can get the most benefit from their education now, in secondary school and beyond,” Gowrie Street Primary School principal Eron Chapman said.
The school’s commercial kitchen, which dishes out breakfast, morning tea and lunch every day, has been fundamental in lifting and maintaining school attendance.
Ms Chapman said Scoot to School was showing early success in complementing such attendance initiatives.
“We’re getting 15 to 20 students scooting each day – and they arrive happy, hungry for brekkie and ready to learn,” he said.
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