Thirty-five primary schools within Düsseldorf took part
In the heart of Derendorf, the Catholic Primary School Essener Straße 1 hosted an award ceremony that aimed to promote student movement and road safety. The event was a culmination of a competition among participating schools, with the Central event being the central highlight.
The competition saw the Catholic Primary School Florensstraße emerge as the winner, taking first place. The runner-up was the Catholic Primary School Essener Straße, and the Gemeinschaftsgrundschule Kaiserswerth at Fliednerstraße 32 finished in third place.
The school that clinched the top spot in the competition to promote student movement in Derendorf was none other than Gymnasium Derendorf, located in Düsseldorf.
Principal Natascha Dörner emphasised the importance of their participation, stating, "Movement is healthy, fun, and a shared school route strengthens social bonds." She added that it's crucial for them to show children and parents that they can do a lot for themselves and the environment by walking to school.
Deputy Mayor Cornelia Zuschke, however, expressed concerns about the "parent taxi," stating that children move less when brought to school by car and miss opportunities to be active in traffic. She appealed to parents and all drivers to always expect mistakes from children in traffic and emphasised the benefits of training independence and knowing the dangers.
The immediate danger of accidents for students on the road has also increased, according to Deputy Mayor Zuschke. She stressed the need for road safety education, stating that traffic around schools has significantly increased. To address this, children were guided to schools by parents acting as "bus drivers" following a fixed schedule with different "routes."
The school grounds in Derendorf were transformed into a hub of activity, featuring a scooter course, a sign forest where children could test and improve their knowledge of traffic signs, and a diverse fringe program offering games, movement, and walking training.
The arrival of the three "Pedibus" groups, formed by walking students, was a particular highlight of the day. The event served as a reminder that every step towards promoting student movement and road safety is a step in the right direction.
