Wake Students Celebrate Walk to School Day 2008

October 8, 2008 - Students at schools across Wake County joined in today’s celebration of Walk to School Day.

The national Walk to School Day celebration is designed to enhance the health of students and their families by providing an opportunity to increase physical activity, draw greater community awareness to safe walking and biking routes to school and demonstrate community strategies to improve air quality.

“A number of the physical education teachers in our elementary schools use this day to demonstrate one strategy in leading a healthy lifestyle,” said Ann Dishong, WCPSS senior administrator for Health and Physical Education “Walk to School Day is just one example of a lifestyle pattern change that could help curb our nation's obesity and type II diabetes epidemic.”

WCPSS educators have found a number of ways to involve students in Walk to School Day today.

At Brooks Elementary, Physical Education Specialist Chuck Amato met parents and students at a nearby shopping center. Amato had several students carry a school banner to lead the large group of students, parents and staff in walking several blocks to the school.

At Combs Elementary, principal Intern Jeanette Lantzy was joined by over 500 Combs students, parents, staff, and community members on a one-mile walk to Combs. Dr. Anne McLaurin, Wake County School Board member, and Stephon McQueen, retired NFL player and student health advocate, along with Mrs. Wolf of NC State University, the Cary High School JROTC, and Southeast Raleigh High football players walked with the students. Arriving at school, students led a Wellness Rally with inspiring speeches and music from the school chorus. Later, parents participated in an information session encouraging wellness and a more active lifestyle for their families.

At Forest Pines Elementary, Physical Education Specialist Karen Elliott helped the school kick off its first Walk at School Day celebration. The entire staff and all the students joined in warm up/stretches, singing, and a 30 minute walk. The Raleigh Police Department and PTA are partners in this year’s walk. The walk will conclude with a drawing for PTA donated water bottles and an announcement of the grand total of tennis shoes donated by participants to be distributed to local charities. Ronald McDonald was a special guest initiating a “Go Active” Program with the students.

At Olive Chapel Elementary, Physical Education Specialist Kate Caggia led her school in taking part in its seventh Walk to School Day.  At 8:30 a.m., students gathered at various “Walking School Bus Stops,” designated places in nearby neighborhoods where they conduct a monthly walk to school the first Wednesday of each month. Olive Chapel and the Town of Apex partnered on a grant that supports their Walking School Bus, a Safe Route to Schools initiative. 

At Penny Road Elementary, Physical Education Specialists Colleen Kanters and Christine Hughes have enlisted the help of Carolina Hurricane’s mascot Stormy to lead students and family members on a walk from Cambridge Pool to their school.

At Wakefield Elementary, Physical Education Specialists Carl Hill and Nancy Kelley-Cram were leading students from the TPC at Wakefield parking lot to their school. Students riding the bus were walking from Wakefield Middle to the elementary school. Wakefield’s Walk to School event was sponsored by Wake Med, Fed Ex, and Safe Kids of North Carolina. The Raleigh Fire Department, the Raleigh Police Department, and the Wake County Sherriff's Department helped provide an escort.

At Baucom Elementary, Physical Education Specialist Connie Cronk helped the school organize events each day last week. They organized daily themed walks so that students had a variety of opportunities to engage in physical activities such as a walk in the park and walk with their teachers. They began the week with everyone from the school community gathering at the park to enjoy a nice walk and picnic.

Cary Elementary, Combs Elementary, Wake Forest Elementary and Weatherstone Elementary held Walk to School Day events.

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