Walk to School Day, which for a majority of the schools will be on Wednesday, October 10, hopes to address the
growing concern with lack of physical activity as well as increase awareness in
protecting our environment. Over the last 30 years, the percentage of children
biking and walking to school has declined from
50% or more to where it is now closer to about 15% that
bike or walk.
For some families, this
is an opportunity to give walking and bicycling to school a try. Walk to School Day is not a new
initiative. The Partnership for a Walkable America sponsored the first National
Walk Our Children to School Day in Chicago in 1997, modeled after the United Kingdom’s walk to school events. In the
U.S., Walk to School grows in numbers
and relevance each year. Whatever the motivation, Walk to School boils down to families and
community.
“October is Child Health Month and walking or bicycling to school gives children time for physical activity and a sense of responsibility and independence; it also creates an opportunity to be outdoors and provides time to connect with parents, friends and neighbors. The entire community benefits when there is less traffic congestion,” says Marian Sheridan, School Health and Safety
Programs Coordinator for the Fond du Lac School District. “We encourage students and parents to review the list below and take the
opportunity to participate in Walk to School Day.” Schools will also be
providing incentive prizes and/or raffle drawings provided through Safe Routes to School for students who
choose to participate in this activity:
Chegwin Elementary School On Friday,
October 5 staff will plan to meet students at
two locations at 7:50 a.m.: McKinley Park and the sidewalk by the parking lot
of U.S. Bank where students will be joined by employees from U.S. Bank, Chegwin’s Partners in Education. Participating students will have their names entered into a drawing for prizes.
Evans Elementary School students and
staff are gathering at Taylor Park and walking to Evans School at 7:55 a.m.
Students who walk to school will have a
chance to win one of the many prizes through a drawing later in
the morning.
Lakeshore Elementary School staff will be
meeting students at the trail head on Luco Road (by the BP station) at 7:55
a.m. and walking to school on the trail.
Parents and other adults, along with pets, are encouraged to walk with us. After the walk,
students will meet in the gymnasium to draw for numerous prizes.
Parkside Elementary School staff will meet
students at three intersections at 7:45 a.m. to acknowledge
walkers and continue the walk to school with the
students. Staff will join students at the corner of Arndt and Peters, the
corner of Arndt and Seymour, and the corner of Arndt and Hickory. Participating
students will get their names entered into a raffle to win various prizes. A Parkside
banner will be available for students and parents to sign if they walk.
Pier Elementary School students are
invited at 7:45 a.m to meet Pier staff members in the Gilles parking lot OR at
the corner of Martin Avenue and Hawthorne Drive. All students who walk to
school will be entered in a drawing to win prizes. Students are also encouraged
to walk from their home (with proper supervision according to their age) or
meet Pier staff members along their routes.
Riverside Elementary
School - On Wednesday, October 3 parents,
students, teachers and student athletes from Fond du Lac High School (FHS)
met at Franklin Park to walk to school. Upon arriving at Riverside those
who walked signed a banner acknowledging participation in the event. The
annual Breakfast with a FHS Athlete event followed as FHS student athletes ate
breakfast and built relationships with the Riverside Rocket Superstar
students. Students that took the bus participated as well. A walking path
was set up on the playground for students to walk once they arrived at school.
Anyone that walked was entered in a drawing for great prizes.
Roberts Elementary
School staff and students will be meeting at Lallier Park on the
corner of National and 4th streets at 7:50 am to walk together to school. Prize
drawings will take place for those students that do walk to school on that
day. Parents, students, and siblings are welcome to walk to school on
that day as well!
Rosenow Elementary
School invites students, staff, parents, friends, and community
members to join us for Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 10th. We
will gather at 7:50 at the Fondy Soccer Complex concession stand, and we will
begin the walk back to Rosenow promptly at 8:00 a.m. Every Rosenow student who
participates in the walk will be eligible to enter his or her name in a drawing
for great prizes that will be held later in the day.
STEM Academy and STEM
Institute students and their families are invited to meet staff at
the entrance to Fruth Field (on the Cardinal) to begin walking to STEM at 7:30
a.m. for Walk to School Day. Participating students will have their names
entered into a drawing for some awesome prizes!
Waters Elementary
School staff invites students, parents and grandparents to join them at 7:45 a.m. at two locations for the walk to school event: Eaton’s Pizza parking lot (9th and Park) or the Dutch Gap at 15th and Park Ave. There will be prizes awarded to those participating in the Walk to School!
Sabish Middle School will be meeting
at Plamore Park and leave for Sabish at 7:30 a.m. Everyone in attendance will
be entered into a drawing for prizes in the gym once we walk back to school.
Mr. Larson and Ms. Hammer hope to see you there!
Theisen Middle School staff will be
meeting students at 7:15
a.m. at three
locations: Pier Elementary School, the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds bridge,
and Danbury Park. Various staff members will walk with students from these
locations. Participating students will have their names entered into a drawing
for a variety of prizes that will be raffled off throughout the day. Will will
also promote the healthiness of walking for exercise and promote student health
awareness through announcements / participation!
Woodworth Middle School will be meeting
at 7:30 a.m. at four locations: the Lallier Park gazebo; the north baseball
diamond at Russell Park (the corner of 2nd and Ashland); the corner of National
Avenue and Division Street near the Marian University campus and the 4th Street
Baseball Diamond parking lot at the end of Springs Rd. Students are invited to
meet and walk with staff members from any one of the four locations.
Participating students will have their names entered into a drawing to win some
fun prizes through a raffle.