The focus of Eagleby South State School has been to improve student attendance and engagement. One of the innovative strategies that the school is using is the Walking School Bus. The Bus was introduced to try to reduce the number of consistent late-arriving students and to increase overall attendance. The Bus is two to three groups of students, with adult supervision, walking along a set route between their homes and school. Supervising adults wear custom made, high visibility clothing. Children can join the bus along a route to school, at their home, or at a collection point. Homes are visited by the staff when students are picked up. Following their arrival at school, students then participate in a breakfast program. The message to the community about the importance of education is visible and powerful.
"We have volunteers and paid staff who walk past houses and pick up kids who might not otherwise come to school. Kids see other happy students walking past, they join in so they get to school on time and we give them breakfast, so it is improving health, wellbeing and attendance." (Eagleby South SS Principal)
This page was last reviewed on 28 Oct 2011
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and Employment) 2011.