Save a Bus, Walk to School

Cary, NC – More than a dozen Wake County schools participated in the national Walk to School Day event last Wednesday.

Students, staff and families enjoyed a little exercise and fresh air on their way to school.

“Walking is one of the best physical activities in our community—it’s free, there are numerous greenways, and it helps communities identify safer routes for getting to school,” said Laura Aiken, director of Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) and WakeMed Community Outreach.

Cool Ideas Out of Apex

Schools celebrated Walk to School Day in different ways. At Olive Chapel Elementary in Apex, they kicked off the school’s Walking Wednesday Walking School Bus program. Families are invited formally to walk their students to school the first Wednesday of each month. Walking School Bus captains help families get to school safely as a group, and students earn toe tokens and t-shirt iron-ons through the program. Olive Chapel PE teacher Katie Caggia began the program in 2004 with the administration and parents’ support. “Walk to School Day is a great way to get students moving in the morning, and yesterday’s event was a great kick-off to our Walking Wednesdays program,” Caggia said.

Cary’s Northwoods Walk Led By The Mayor

For Northwoods Elementary School, Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht greeted students and led the walk from Town of Cary’s Northwoods Trail, part of the greenway system, to the school. Principal Dr. Kerry Chisnall acted as the crossing guard at one residential street the students crossed along the way.

On-Going Efforts

Farmington Woods – Walk coordinator and PE teacher Don Eller tells us that they meet in the Kildare Plaza shopping center at 7:45 and walk .7 of a mile to school. They call it “Walking Wednesdays” and it goes on all year.

Green Hope – PE teachers Steve Gurrslin and Sue Sigmund told us that their walk to school will be starting at the Circle on the Green in Preston Village at 8:30 am daily. All students who walk to school with us will get a certificate of participation!

For more info contact Advocates for Health in Action (AHA).

     “A bus is a vehicle that runs twice as fast when you are after it as when you are in it” -anon.