Getting To And From School

Newton Central School participates in the Auckland City Travelwise programme which is aimed at getting us all to improve our travel choices and to make it easier to get out of the car and into passenger transport, onto a bike, or off on a walk.

To help with this we:

  • have developed a map giving "walking time" zones to the streets surrounding the school.  If you have to drive your child, why not consider parking a distance from the school and walking from there? This will reduce the traffic chaos at our gates in the mornings and afternoons, improve fitness and add to your child's sense of independence if and when you chose to let them walk the last leg alone. Click here to view the Newton Central School Time Zone Map.
  • hold "Wheels Days" where students are invited to bring their bikes, skateboards, scooters and helmets to school and to ride within the school grounds at breaktime.
  • have had students design "watch out bikes about" signs that the council has produced and placed in the roads around the school.
  • run a supervised "Kea Crossing" service on Monmouth Street where students and a parent or teacher volunteer.
  • run various challenges throughout the school year, such as Use Your Feet Fridays and Guess The Teachers’ Shoe to encourage alternative modes of transport.

For more information on the Travelwise events planned for 2012 click here.

Booster Seats

We are highlighting the importance of using a car Booster Seat for all children less than 148cm tall. Seat belts are designed to fit adults, not children. A seat belt that doesn't fit properly can cause severe head, spine and abdominal injuries in a crash. Boosters help to correctly position the seat belt over the child's body. For a belt to fit correctly it should sit low over the hips and not cut into the neck.

We'll be putting posters and height charts supplied by Safekids New Zealand throughout the school. Please read this pamphlet and discuss it with your kids. Let's make Booster Seats the norm at Newton Central and make them part of our school culture!

Did you know?

  • Boosters reduce the risk of injury for primary school kids by up to 59%
  • On average 16 children die a year in NZ from injuries in motor vehicle accidents, with around 26 being admitted to hospital every month
  • A study by Starship Hospital showed that on average for children 4 – 12 year olds:
    All 5 year olds
    90% of 6-8 year olds
    50% of 9-10 year olds
    10% of 11 & 12 year olds still require boosters
  • Full backed boosters offer the best protection, some do up to 36kgs. They include a seat belt guide that positions the seat belt. Half boosters are for older children who no longer fit their full back booster
  • The back seat is safest: if you must use the front seat push it back as far as possible
  • Never use the rear lap belt alone, it doesn’t provide upper body protection

Please..

  • Consider keeping a spare Booster in your car for taking extra children
  • Send your child to school with their Booster if someone else is picking them up

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