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walk-to-school pro- Afram that emerged rom safety concerns over vehicles stopping in front of 1aurelwtood public school, may have more ben- eficial effects that can be shared throughout the local education system, While the Walk to School Wednesday program. start- ed in October. has reduced the number of students being dropped offin front of the school. and increased the number students walk- ing to school to I'll per cent, it's also proved beneficial as a community building exer- cise. Older students are taking more responsibility in see- ing that younger ones are getting to school safely, in what is being termed a "human" school bus pro- ject, Students at the school have also taken responsibil- ity for the project, keeping track of the numbers and compiling data this week that will help the school realize a goal ofhaving up to 80 per cent of its student body walking to school. More importantly. say organizers. it's promoting more exercise for students at the west Waterloo school, favouring an active lifestyle when all the health statistics point to a greater obesity problem with today's chit- dren. Clark Day. vice-principal at Laurelwood public school. said the Walk to School Wednesdays pro- gram was launched by par- ems wnrried about the number of cars stopping in front of the school to drop ofrchildren. Kids and cars don't mix, and the concern was that it was an accident just waiting to happen, he said. The school was also part of the Active and Safe Routes to School program, that was promoting more alternatives than simply 'Walking Wednesdays' Book Your New Yuri Eve Party CALI. 806-2550 LIVE JAZZ a. BLUES BAND By Bun VRMNAL (Shrunu‘fe Ptr, s1iAR'HOUsE Laurelwood school encourages kids' to use two feet and a heartbeat busing and driving children to school. Cl. Moore, Laura McCuaig, Abbie McLellan and Thomas Pfaff are some of the Grade 5 volun- teers collecting data for Laurelwood public school's Walk to School Wednesdays program, The goal of the program is to get more of their classmates to walk to school, reducing the num- ber who get dropped off. They hope to improve pedestrian safety at the school, reduce emis- sions. and get the students thinking about a more active lifestyle. The program also cuts down on vehicle emissions around schools, which stud- ies have shown have nega- tive impacts on school-aged children. "From my perspective too, you're really building community," said Day. "We have kids walking with kids. and we're trying to kick off this human school bus that people will use. "So hopefully what will happen is these older kids start to connect with younger kids in the commu. nity and walk together." Day said the hope is the project will get to the point where parents of students from kindergarten to Grade ft will be able to conned with each other to make sure the older students shepherd the younger ones to whom. "II has all sorts of spinoffs like bahysiuing." said Day. "It's just about looking out for each other." The school also has big- LIFESTYLE ger goals in mind for its Walking Wednesday pro- As part of the Interna- tional Walk to School pro- gram, they hope In log enough kilometres to walk across Canada symbolically. "So hopefully we're pro- viding incentives for kids m tell their parents that, Now I've got to walk to school Wednesday." said Day "That spins off to they have to walk to school every day." So far the program has seen a two per cent increase in the number of students walking to school. The data collectors last Wednesday were Thomas Pia", Abbie McLellan. Cl Moore and laura McCuaig, The data is being collect- ed by a Grade 5 class at the school, with the students taking some real ownership over promoting walking with their classmates Ht's good because you can see how the kids are doing." said McLellan. Ht seems like there's not that many people walking. but there's actually a lot of Peo- ple out there." "And it's actually been going up," said McCuaig. "The numbers have been really been going up lately." "And we're trying to push it up." said Pfaff. "We're thinking of doing a competi- tion with prizes for the class that walks the most, so Ihat'll encourage kids to walk more." The students themselves find they're walking more now because of the work they've don? with the pro- ject. "I've been walking to school every day this year. even though I live way out of the way." said Ha“. "And three of my friends are walk- ing with me as well." And the benefits are many. said Moore. Especial- ly in the improved air quali- ty around the school. "Sometimes when my friends and I are walking to school. we can smell the pollution," said Moore. ' "We don't really like it - it stinks." BOB WIAMC PHOYO The meeting will be held at the Adult Recreation Centre, at the corner of King and Allen Streets in Waterloo, at 130 pm. Everyone is welcome, and bring some finger foods. The Central Ontario Orchid Society will hold its Christmas pot-luck supper and monthly meeting. Dec. 6 at St. Joseph's Church in Kitchener. The evening will also include a silent auction. Festivities run from 7-9 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free to visitors. Membership is $15 for those who want to join. The church is Iocaied at the corner of Courtland and Madison Avenue. Call Bereaved Families of Ontario at 745-7280, or visit www.bfmvaterioo.on.ca for more information. Tickets for the tremendousty popular Christmas programs at Donn Heritage Crossroads have been going fast: so to avoid disappointment, phone or drop in now to get your tickets. The Kitchener Waterloo Aquarium Society is hold- ing their Fishmas, oops. Christmas meeting on Dec. 7. The Kitchener-Waterloo chapter of Parents With- out Partners orientation sessions are held the third Wednesday of every month at St. Andrew's Presbyter- ian Church in Kitchener. Meetings are at 7:30 p.111. The church is located at thekorner of Oieen and Weber Streets. For more information, call 896-3566. Anything but Merry is a community outreach evening offering practical strategies for coping with the holidays after therlosrs of a loved one, The evéning will be held Dec. 6, at 7 p.m.. at the Rata-Bechtel Family Centre. 62l King St. W., and is free admission. The popular Lantern Light Tours will run five evenings in December, Dec. 3, 4, IO, 1 I and 17 at 7 or 8:30 pm. Each tour includes a visit to a select number of seasonally decorated buildings in the historic vil- lage, a horse-drawn wagon ride and a Christmas mm cert in the Freeport Church. Starry Night will he held Dec, 18 from 6:30 In 9:30 p.m. This magical evening reureates a village Christ- mas of 1914. with over 100 lanterns lighting the sear snnally decorated village. Visitors can sample hot cider, roasted chestnuts, fresh baking made from authentic 1914 recipes, and listen to the carolers as they enjoy this special winter's evening under the Stars Tickets must he purchased in advance and are available by calling 7484914. lantern Iaiht Tour tick- ets are $8.50 per person. and Starry Night tickets are $16 for adults and $8.50 for children. Monthly sessions for Parents Without Partners Take a Lantern Light tour Anything but merry? Orchid Society holds Christmas pot-luck Merry Fishmas?