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Safe Routes To School - Education

SRTS offers the tools students need to be smart, safe pedestrians and bicyclists through a combination of training sessions, school assemblies, workshops, videos, and printed materials. We also have resources available for parents/guardians, educators, and community stakeholders that include webinars, lesson plans, videos, and other materials for download.
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Children learning about traffic rules

Webinars

Please view list of webinars below

SRTS 2022 Annual Safe Routes to School Awards Ceremony

 

Annual Safe Routes to School Awards Ceremony
June 3, 2022

 

 

Click here to view the 2021-2022 Year in Review video.

Exemplary Programs by Region Winners

  • John R. Fausey Elementary School, West Springfield
  • Joseph L. Mulready Elementary School, Hudson
  • Beverly Elementary Schools, Beverly
  • Mullen-Hall Elementary School, Falmouth
  • Mildred Avenue K-8 School, Mattapan (Honorable Mention)

Community Collaboration:

  • Let’s Move Hampden County 5210

Crossing Guard of the Year:

  • Frantz Antoine, Cambridge (Winner)
  • Richard Spearin, Taunton (Honorable Mention)
  • Marilyn Johnson, Franklin (Crossing Guard Champion)
  • Hank Hryniewicz, Brookline (Crossing Guard Champion)

Nikki Tishler Memorial Award:

  • Paul Guerin, Burgess Elementary School, Sturbridge

SRTS 2022 Webinar for Municipalities: Municipal Right of Way Requirements – January 26, 2022

On January 26, 2022, the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program hosted a webinar to discuss Municipal Right of Way (ROW) requirements. We were joined by a special guest speaker from MassDOT who reviewed some common terms and definitions, presented the ROW process steps with MassDOT, and provided some typical ROW scenarios in SRTS projects.

Please view the webinar video below:

SRTS Spring 2022 Webinar: New Tools for Schools

On April 13, 2022, the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program hosted the annual Spring Webinar: New Tools for Schools

This webinar was designed to provide an overview of new tools and resources developed this school year by the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program for individual schools, school districts, and municipalities. A few of the resources reviewed will included our "On-Campus Activity Guide," an Arrival/Dismissal Toolkit, and our DESE-approved (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) professional development program. We were also joined by representatives from MassDOT who discussed the Commonwealth's new "Safe Speeds" tool.

Please view the webinar video below:

SRTS 2021 Fall Summit Zoom Meeting – October 29, 2021

On October 29, 2021, the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program hosted our annual Fall Summit from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A variety of topics were covered which included an in-depth look into why Safe Routes to School matters, how to conduct a Walk Audit, an explanation on the Arrival Dismissal observation process, and a presentation about Education and Professional Development.  The morning was closed out with guest speaker Emily Stein outlining the new “Kids Speaking Up for Road Safety” program. Our lunchtime session was on being a Bike-Friendly driver—presented by Galen Mook from MassBike. The Summit was concluded with a demonstration of the SRTS Dashboard along with a demonstration of our latest online tools.

Individual links to videos

 

Quick Tips – Creative Ways to Engage Students and the School Community

Why SRTS Matters?

Quick Tips – SRTS and Environmental Impacts

All About the Walk Audit

Quick Tips – Bike Racks and Bike Locks

All About Arrival and Dismissal

Quick Tips – Safe Routes Doesn’t Stay In Our Lane!

All About Education and Professional Development

“Kids Speaking Up for Road Safety”

Being a Bike-Friendly Driver

SRST Dashboard/New Online Tool Demo

SRTS 2021 Spring Webinar: New Tools for Schools

On April 14, 2021, the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program hosted the annual Spring Webinar: New Tools for Schools

This webinar was designed to provide an overview of new tools and resources developed this school year by the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program for individual schools, school districts, and municipalities. A few of the resources reviewed included our “Equity Tip Sheet,” a guide to “Pop-Up Projects for Safe Routes to School,” and “Staying Safe During Arrival and Dismissal.” During the webinar, we took time to examine these tools (and more) as well as provided guidance on intended audiences and usage. We closed the webinar with a preview of key findings from our recent SRTS Partner Survey and announcements of upcoming events.

Please view the webinar video below:

SRTS 2021 Webinar for Municipalities: Models of Engagement with Safe Routes to School – February 3,

On February 3, 2021, the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program hosted a webinar to discuss the shift from “Enforcement” to “Engagement.”

The webinar content was designed for municipal staff (transportation/mobility, public works, planning, public health, etc.), SRTS task members, SRTS Alliance Partners, and anyone interested in learning about the whole community approach to SRTS.

Presenters included special guest speakers from SRTS communities and breakout groups for lively discussions about community support.

Please view the webinar video below:

SRTS 2020 Fall Summit Zoom Meeting – October 28, 2020

On October 28, 2020, the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program hosted our annual Fall Summit from 9:00am and 2:00pm. A variety of topics were covered which included an in depth look into why Safe Routes to School matters, how to conduct a Walk Audit, and a presentation explaining the Arrival Dismissal observation process.  Afternoon presentations included a walk break and social media challenge, a review of cool walking and biking gear, and was concluded with four breakout sessions with topics selected by participants.

Individual Links to videos

Why SRTS Matters?

Quick Tips-Can You see me now?

All about the walk audit

Quick Tips-Helmets

All about the Arrival Dismissal

Quick Tips-Put Your Best Foot Forward

Gear Up for Walking & Biking

Quick Tips-Bike Baskets

SRTS Student Travel in a COVID World Zoom Meetings – August 12, 2020

SRTS presents several webinars throughout the year. If you couldn’t attend live, full recordings of each webinar are available below.

SRTS Student Travel in a COVID World Zoom Meetings – August 12, 2020

On August 12, 2020, the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program hosted a meeting on Student Travel in a COVID World at 10:00am and 2:00pm. This meeting was designed to have school officials and stakeholders plan and discuss what the most important activities would be in advance of back to school with the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School team. An overview of the Safe School Travel during COVID-19 document was featured which provided the top five measures that a school should address now. Measures included efficient planning for safe arrival/dismissal, improving safety in anticipation of increased family vehicle traffic, accommodating all forms of transportation during arrival and dismissal, reducing the amount of family vehicle traffic on campus and offering educators safe options to complete active transportation and safety training. The meeting was highlighted with slides from MassDEP’s Green Team and MassDOT’s recently launched Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program.

Please view webinar video below:

Additional Webinars: (when you click the hyperlink below only the video of the past webinar will appear)

Annual Safe Routes to School Awards Ceremony

 

June 2, 2021

 

Exemplary Programs by Region Winners:

  • Edward P. Boland Elementary School, Springfield
  • Florence Sawyer School, Bolton
  • Dr. Elmer S. Bagnall Elementary School, Groveland
  • Teaticket Elementary School, Falmouth

Community Collaboration:

  • Bike to School Concord

Crossing Guard of the Year:

  • Dave Leger, Leominster (Winner)
  • Jim Laramie, Marblehead (Honorable Mention)
  • Rosemary Chirillo, Hingham (Crossing Guard Champion)
  • Annette Dilley, Braintree (Crossing Guard Champion)
  • Kevin Shrayer, Beverly (Crossing Guard Champion)

Nikki Tishler Memorial Award:

  • Betsy Goodrich and Elecia Miller, Mayor’s Health Task Force, Lawrence

 

June 8, 2020

 

Exemplary Programs by Region Winners:

  • Lee Elementary School, Lee
  • Roberts Elementary School, Medford
  • Parthum Elementary and Middle Schools, Lawrence
  • Nathaniel Morton Elementary School, Plymouth

Exemplary Programs by Region Honorable Mentions:

  • Clarksburg School, Clarksburg
  • Miller Elementary School, Holliston
  • Roger Clap Elementary School, Dorchester
  • Marguerite E. Small Elementary School, Yarmouth

Community Collaboration:

  • Shape Up Somerville (Winner)
  • Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (Honorable Mention)

Nikki Tishler Memorial Award:

  • Emily Schiavoni, North Adams Public Schools

May 30, 2019

June 25, 2018

 

POP-UP Projects for Safe Routes to School

 

Pop-up Projects for Safe Routes to School document image.

 

 

This guide explores how schools can use pop-up demonstration projects to improve safety on and around campus.  These temporary activations, often referred to as tactical urbanism can be used to promote walking and biking to, from, and around campus. You will find examples of local, national, and international projects, tips to support implementation efforts, and links to additional resources.

Pop-up Projects for Safe Routes to School

Bike Safety Education

Children learning about bicycle safety

Bike Safety Education Videos

Bike Safety Education

Bicycling-Themed Lesson Plans

 

Pedestrian Safety Education

Children safely cross the street.

SRTS provides pedestrian safety lessons for students in grades K-8, but is primarily focused on second-grade students. Cognitively, students at the second-grade level are ready to learn about the principles of being a safe pedestrian and therefore SRTS encourages schools to incorporate this training as enrichment or as part of curriculum. Schools can deliver the curriculum themselves with the resources below or can schedule a SRTS Outreach Coordinator to provide the training:

Pedestrian Safety Education

 

Pedestrian-Themed Lesson Plans

Additional Resources for Pedestrians

 

Driver Education

 

Being a “Bike-Friendly” Driver

Student Safety During Arrival and Dismissal

Navigating School Zone Driving

Crossing Guards

Crossing guards play an important role in helping students travel safely as they approach the school. SRTS has some helpful resources to support the crossing guard(s) at your school.

Kids Speaking Up for Road Safety

Kids Speaking Up for Road Safety is a free program with ready-to-use, 45- to 60-minute lesson plans for grades 2 to 3, 4 to 5, and 6. Through a cute cartoon meerkat named Sam, the lessons help students become part of the solution to end distracted driving – long before they are drivers themselves.

EndDD.org and Safe Roads Alliance developed these lesson plans and collaborated with psychologists, SEL experts, content developers, videographers, and animators experienced in creating educational programs. Lesson content and activities draw on the core SEL competencies framework developed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning.

Through guided discussion and activities, students explore different types of distractions that occur outside and inside the car. Students learn about distraction and non-confrontational communication skills. Ancillary resources include a facilitator’s guide with an advisory letter home to parents/guardians, student worksheets, cross-curricular activities appropriate for grade level, safe driving pledges, and a printable reference guide for students. These tools aim to help students positively influence their parents’ and caregivers’ driving behaviors and increase the likelihood that they will choose to drive distraction-free when they get behind the wheel.

Other Resources

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