Hazelwood Elementary has been part of the Safe Routes to Schools grant to encourage and support “active commuting” on the part of school children and families.  The goals are to identify safe and unsafe areas for biking and walking, design safety improvements, educate students on safe walking and biking practices, and launch events to encourage children to walk and bike.  Through new and improved systems that encourage more students to walk and bike, we can also help combat childhood obesity.

To date, we have completed a Walking Audit with the support of Feet First and over 30 student and community volunteers, and taught all 4th and 5th graders bicycle safety with the support of Bicycle Alliance of Washington.  We recently had a meeting to review the results of the Walking Audit with representatives from the City of Newcastle, Newcastle Police Department, the City of Bellevue, Feet First, and the Renton School District.  I was so impressed with the level of commitment for student safety and the willingness to partner to promote a safe community for students and families to walk and bike.  I look forward to our on-going work to improve our neighborhood and educate our families on safe routes and the benefits of walking and biking.  We will be having a community event in early October with the help of our Hazelwood PTSA to promote walking/biking to school.

The Hazelwood community is amazing and I continue to feel proud and appreciative to be part of this wonderful community.

Cindy Farnsworth

principal, Hazelwood Elementary School