Healthy Schools Communications Resources: Active School Travel

This page includes basic messaging designed for use by school administrators to promote the topic of oral health among students, parents, and the general school community. Included are:

• Morning announcement scripts
• Newsletter inserts
• Social media messages

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Healthy Schools contact at HPEPH.

Morning Announcement Message	Audience
A message from Public Health – Spring is a great time to walk, bike, and roll to school. Start your day with fresh air and physical activity and you’ll be ready to learn when you get to school.	Elementary students
A message from Public Health – Do your parents drive you to school or the bus stop? Try adding a few more steps to your day by asking them to park 5 minutes from school or the bus stop and walking the rest of the way with your friends. Drive to 5! Every step counts!	Elementary students
A message from Public Health – Choosing active transportation is a great way to get more exercise. It can include walking, cycling, skateboarding, and more! Getting active can help you feel more energized and alert and will also improve your focus, learning and memory. Let’s get moving!	Elementary students

Newsletter Inserts	Audience
Five Benefits of Active Transportation Increases level of physical activity and develops lifelong healthy habits – Children and youth are recommended to get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity every day. Active transportation is a great way to develop the exercise habits through an activity that is already part of your daily routine. Boosts mental health, brain development, and academic performance – Physical activity has been shown to increase alertness, improve memory, and increase academic performance. Improves social connections – Travelling through their local neighbourhood increases students’ social interactions and helps them learn more about their community. Reduces traffic congestion – Fewer vehicles on the road will increase road safety in school zones. Reduces air pollution – Less traffic equals cleaner air in our school zones. Let’s encourage our kids to try to include active transportation in their routine. Even one day a week can help.   For more information check out: Ontario Active School Travel	Elementary Parents
Drive to 5! Looking to reduce the chaos of school drop off? Try out Drive to 5. Drive to 5 encourages families to park outside the school zone, approximately 5 minutes away from school and then walk or roll with your child for the rest of the journey. This will help to reduce traffic, improve road safety and air quality in the school zone, and encourage active transportation. Your child will be more alert and ready to learn and their physical and mental health will improve. For more information check out schooltravel.ca.	Elementary Parents

Social Media Messaging – Elementary	Audience
Active transportation is using human power to move! Walking, biking, or rolling are great ways to get to and from school and get to know your community. #activeschooltravel	Families
Let’s get rolling! Be prepared to bike, scooter, or skateboard this season, check to see if you have the right helmet for the right activity. https://www.parachutecanada.org/en/injury-topic/helmets/helmets-for-bicycles-skateboarding-inline-skating-scooter-riding/	Parents
Why should you use #activeschooltravel? It is good for our bodies, minds, communities, and planet! https://ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/OAST-SiS-ADS-2022-110.jpg	Parents
May 29 – June 2 is #BiketoSchoolWeek! Make sure you are ready to ride with the ABC quick check: http://ontarioroadsafety.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Cycling-ABC-Quick-Check.pdf     #activeschooltravel	Parents
Keep our children safe! Always practice safe driving behaviours in school zones. #activeschooltravel	Parents
DYK #activeschooltravel can contribute to a green environment? Walking or rolling to school can help to reduce local air pollution and reduce the risk of cardiovascular and lung diseases! https://ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/OAST-SiS-ADS-2022-14.jpg	Families
DYK only 28% of children in Canada meet the national physical activity guidelines? Choosing #activeschooltravel will help your child meet the guidelines and build healthy habits for life!	Parents
Need to drive to school? Drive to 5! Drive your children to within a 5-minute walk from the school and walk or roll the rest of the way. #activeschooltravel https://ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Drive-to-5-EN.zip	Parents
Walking, rolling, or running to school will help get your brain ready to learn! #activeschooltravel https://ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/OAST-SiS-ADS-2022-18.jpg	Families

Social Media Messaging – Secondary	Audience
Active transportation is using human power to move! Walking, biking, or rolling are great ways to get to and from school and get to know your community. #activeschooltravel	Youth
Walking, rolling, or running to school will help get your brain ready to learn! #activeschooltravel	Youth
Why should you use #activeschooltravel? It is good for our bodies, minds, communities, and planet!	Youth
DYK #activeschooltravel can contribute to a green environment? Walking or rolling to school can help to reduce local air pollution and reduce the risk of cardiovascular and lung diseases! https://ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/OAST-SiS-ADS-2022-14.jpg	Youth