Nine WCPSS Schools take part in 2005 Walk to School
Sept. 30, 2005 - On Wednesday, October 5th, nine Wake County elementary schools will participate in the 2005 Walk to School project as a part of a national event involving over 3,000 schools. The purpose of the project is to bring greater community awareness to our nation's obesity and type II diabetes epidemic and to encourage families to take a more active role in the prevention of premature death due to heart attack, stoke, hypertension, and physical inactivity.
This is Wake County's fifth year for participating in Walk to School Day.
Support from Wake Med, the Wake County Fitness Council, and SAFE KIDS has
been instrumental in coordinating the 1000's of children and parents that
will participate in the 2005 Walk to School project.
Listed below are the nine schools, start times, and school contact information:
1. Baucom Elementary (Apex) is expecting more than 200 students, parents, and teachers to participate. The Mayor of Apex, members of the Apex Fire Department, and members of the Apex Police Department will also participate.
Note: Our starting destination is a wonderful park in downtown Apex, CC
Jones Memorial Park. We will begin the walk at 7:30 AM. Many of our students
make signs promoting walking and we also encourage our walkers to carry
flags in honor of our countries soldiers. We may walk in honor of our New
Orleans neighbors this year. Contact: Connie Cronk, Physical Education Teacher
2. Wiley Elementary (Raleigh) is expecting more than 200 students,
parents, and teachers to participate. Mayor Charles Meeker will be the featured
"Fitness Ambassador" at this event. Wiley has participated in
a Safe Walk Zones initiative from NC Department of Transportation to provide
safe walking instruction to students. As a result of this partnership with
DOT, many new safety measures have been put into place for this school.
Note: School Principal Cecilia Rawlins will walk with Mayor Meeker from
Boylan Heights at 8:30 AM. Contact: Cecilia Rawlins, Principal
3. Oak Grove Elementary (Raleigh) is expected to have about 100 students,
teachers, and parents. Community leaders have been invited to participate
in this year's "Walk at School" event that will take place on
the school's track from 8:15-9:00 AM each day during the week of October
3rd.
Note: Throughout the week, the number of miles/laps are recorded for each
students using pedometers. On Wednesday, the school will give out prizes
for those who participated and have a special raffle. Parent volunteers
help with this activity. Contact: GiGi Sammons, Physical Education Specialist
4. Olive Chapel Elementary (Apex) will have over 500 participants
using a unique concept called the "Walking School Bus." A "walking
school bus" lets a group, or "bus," of children walk from
home to school each morning quickly and safely under the guidance of trained
adult supervisors. When the participants arrive at school, they will be
greeted by community leaders and Buster the Robotic School Bus from the
Wake County Department of Transportation.
Note: For a list of departure points or additional information, please contact Katie Caggia at 387-4460 or kcaggia@wcpss.net.
5. Combs Elementary (Raleigh) is expecting over 200 students, parents,
and teachers to participate. The walk will begin at Western Presbyterian
Church at the corner of Kaplan and Lorimer at 7:50 am.
Note: School Board member, Susan Parry will be joined by the Hurricane
and NC State mascots to walk with the children. Contact: Travis Shillings,
Administrative Intern
6. Brooks Elementary (Raleigh) is expecting over 200 students, parents,
and teachers to participate.
Note: The walk will began at 8:00 AM at the Lassiter Kerr Drug Store. Contact:
Chuck Amato, Physical Education Teacher
7. Northwoods Elementary (Cary, NC) to have over 300 students and
parents.
Note: The walk will began at 8:00 AM at the Cary Train Station. Contact:
Betsy Beals, Physical Education Teacher
8. York Elementary (Raleigh) will utilize the School Safety Patrol
students who will lead the students on a walk from the Nature Park through
the woods to York's playground.
Note: They will begin from the Brookhaven Nature Park (Berkeley Street)
at 8:10 am. The York PTA will provide juice to all participants. Students
will receive a wrist band as a reminder that walking is good exercise. Contact:
Carol Ryder, Physical Education Teacher
9. Green Hope Elementary (Cary) is expected to have over 450 walkers
this year!
Note: Our walk will begin at 8:00 a.m. at the Circle on the Green playground
in Preston Village and proceed down on the sidewalk toward Green Hope Elementary.
Contact: Steve Gursslin, Physical Education Teacher
For Additional Information Contact:
Ann Hulslander, Coordinating Teacher for K-12 Healthful Living
Wake County Public Schools
850-8886 or ahulsander@wcpss.net
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