On April 26, 2024, when the first rays of sunshine illuminated Mierendorffstraße, a special day began for the students, teachers, educators and parents of Mierendorff Elementary School. With the initiative of the parent representatives, our school took part in the nationwide action days for more safety on the way to school under the motto #selbstundsicher. From 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the surroundings of the school were transformed into a place of encounter and togetherness. Mierendorffstraße, which is otherwise characterized by rush hour traffic at this time, became a car-free area where children could laugh, play and move freely. The police supported the event by closing the road to moving and parking traffic – a measure that prioritized the protection of our children. The SCHOOL STREETS NOW #selbstundsicher initiative has set itself the task of increasing safety on the way to school and putting the spotlight on the needs of children who want to get to school independently and safely. As a neighbourhood school in the heart of Charlottenburg, we used this day to draw attention to the problematic traffic situation and to set an example for change.
The event was not only a rally, but also a celebration of creativity and commitment. Niclas Rakowsky, parent representative and initiator, thanked all those involved in a short speech and emphasized the importance of safe routes to school. School principal Andreas Schnelle and district councillor Oliver Schrouffeneger supported the message with their own contributions. The children also contributed their voices – with a colorful program of bicycle course, knowledge quiz, street art with chalk, an original street sign fashion show, rhythmic drum sounds and heartwarming vocal contributions. The street was converted into a playground, where basketball hoops, ketcars and rubber twist made for beaming faces. A special highlight was the interactive survey of the children on their way to school. Each child was allowed to place a Lego brick on the tower of their means of transport. In the end, the tower of pedestrians rose into the air – a strong symbol of the mobility of our children and the urgency of safe routes to school. The rbb was also convinced of this, which was on site with a camera team and reported on our initiative in the regional television news.
The day of action was a complete success. All students in grades 1 to 6 had the opportunity to enjoy Mierendorffstraße car-free to the fullest. Even the youngest guests from surrounding daycare centers were enthusiastic. For the future, we hope that the precarious traffic situation in front of our school can be improved not only temporarily as part of a day of action, but permanently.
