Bandiana Primary School wraps up Walk to School October in style

Students took part in the annual Walk to School October across 14 school days from Monday, October 12, until Friday, October 30, and clocked up a combined total of 2340 kilometres - around 500 shy of the distance to the Western Australian capital.

The final trek of the event on Friday was the busiest, with 116 students out of the 295 enrolled accompanied by eight staff for the 2.4-kilometre walk from Bandiana Area Cinema to the school.

Defence school mentor Emily Gotts led the way with the event, along with groundsman Stuart Lingham, and said it was great to see such strong representation from across the school.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"We had foundation right up to year six kids, so it was five-year-olds up to 12-year-olds, which was really good," Miss Gotts said.

"About a dozen members of staff participated on Wednesday (last week) and it really drummed up interest.

"We (staff and students) were ecstatic to return to school for term four having had two school terms of remote learning."

Students were awarded gold, silver or bronze certificates depending on the number of days they took part, with brother and sister duo Isabella, 9, and Tylar, 10, Farrelly among those involved for the entirety.

The Fitourakis family also enjoyed the experience, with Nik, 11, Elisabeth, 9, and Theadora, 8, regulars throughout.

Nik in particular made his mark on the walk among peers and teachers, with his strategy to get as many cars and trucks as possible to acknowledge the group on the way to school.

"There's a couple of boys that walked up the back with me and tried to get the trucks to beep their horns," Miss Gotts laughed.

"Our busiest day, I think they got 100 people sounding their horns and they were over the moon."

After so long apart, principal Donna Wright was glad the school could continue to support the program under stricter rules due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The community is celebrating the importance of connectedness in a time that is unpredictable and unnerving," Ms Wright said.

"Walk to school has promoted a sense of togetherness in the new COVID normal in education."

A COVID-safe barbecue was put on to recognise the students' efforts, with food delivered to classrooms.

The future of Bandiana Primary School has been secured until at least the end of 2025 following a new deal by the education department and the Australian Department of Defence.