This past Wednesday, schools across the country participated in International Walk to School Day. To commemorate the day, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx celebrated with students in Charlotte, NC, calling on everyone to encourage students to walk to school.
Here are just a few highlights from some schools we heard from around the Chicagoland area:
Evergreen Academy Middle School in the McKinley Park neighborhood of Chicago participated by using a meet and walk strategy.
Over 50 students, staff and parents met at McKinley Park and walked the 1.5 miles to school. After arriving, students celebrated with a healthy breakfast before heading to class with active minds ready to learn.
Similar events were held at Prieto Math and Science Academy (above) and Dore Elementary, both in Chicago. At these schools, students received incentives made available through their recent participation in the Healthy CPS program.
Apollo School in Des Plaines regularly offers a walking group in which students and adults meet approximately three-quarters of a mile from the school and walk together.
Along with staff and family members, the school's Walk to School Day group included more than 150 students walking and 20 more on bikes! Apollo also has a “Golden Shoe Award” — a traveling award given each week to the classrooms with the highest student participation in its walking program (pictured left is one Apollo classroom that was a recent recipeint of the award).
At Belding Elementary — serving the Mayfair, Old Irving Park and West Walker neighborhoods of Chicago — students celebrated multiple forms of active transportation.
In the morning, students who brought a bike took part in a bike safety course led by phys. ed. teacher Yara Santillan and supported by parent volunteers.
A small team also pumped air in tires and made minor tune-ups when possible. Over 100 students participated. In the afternoon, students, staff, and family members participated in a walk-a-thon (pictured right) that also served as a healthy fundraiser, creating a day full of health and safety activities.
Did your school participate? Are you interested in learning how to create events like this at your school in the future? Let us know at [email protected].