This is Alex Wilson-Cankaya, whose artistic skills have won his school a prize. His design for a bookmark is being used to help encourage pupils to walk, scoot or cycle to school.
The year three student from Selborne Primary School in Greenford (pictured above with his winning bookmark design and the school’s parent governor Ghana Assi) was the winner of an art competition organised by the council’s school travel team.
All entrants had to draw a picture to show something they enjoyed on their journey to school. More than 60 schools took part and each chose their own winners but Alex won the overall prize for the borough.
Alex’s school was given a scooter pod for storing children’s scooters in and he was awarded £50 worth of Halfords vouchers for himself. His design will be printed on real bookmarks which will be distributed to primary schools across the borough for Walk to School Month in October.
This national challenge aims to encourage families to give children the right amount of exercise each day and help parents to become more active at the same time. Fewer car journeys
also helps air quality and reduces congestion.
It has been reported that exercise improves concentration levels in children – and that pupils walking, scooting or cycling to school tend to arrive refreshed, invigorated and ready to learn.
During October, each pupil at the participating schools will be given the bookmark and it will be stamped each day they walk, cycle or scoot into school.
Schools will have their own rewards for children taking part.
‘We are very proud he won’
Selborne Primary School headteacher Kerry Shilling said: “We are all so excited to see Alex’s superb drawing on the bookmark; we are very proud he won the competition. We encourage all our pupils to walk, cycle or scoot to school so they can enjoy their journey here and be in the right frame of mind for lessons.”
Council leader Julian Bell said: “Firstly, I would like to say congratulations to Alex for his wonderful design. He should be extremely proud of himself, as should everyone that took part. This campaign shows our commitment to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, starting with our very youngest residents.”
