Today is National Walk to School Day.
I know, that's a tall order for such a car culture as we have here in OC.
This is the day that people like us, who live close by, walk to school like any other day, and receive a sticker as we pass through the gate which reads: "I walked to school today!" (the other kids who usually get rides to school have their moms drop them off around the corner so they can be seen walking up to the school and get a sticker as they come to the entrance)
But more than emphasizing the health and environmental aspects of walking, this is about safety, and raising the awareness of drivers and walkers alike in a school zone.
Apparently ours was only one of two schools in our whole district (!) to recognize Walk to School Day, so the local Sheriff's office gave us a lot of attention.
There was a sheriff's vehicle the kids could climb inside of:
And a table set up with senior volunteers giving away goodie bags to the kids filled with stickers, pencils, coloring books and temporary ninja turtle walk-to-school tattoos:
And there were at least four or five uniformed officers on campus:
All to emphasize walking to school and doing it safely:
That's right, Be Safe and Be Seen.
I've been proud of the kids - so far this year we have met our goal of walking to school every single morning, and we haven't been late once. Last year I had 4 kids at 3 different schools and spent my fair share of time shuttling them around...
After the morning's excitement we dropped the twins and Henry off at their classrooms, then Jed and I walked back home like we always do, avoiding the long out-of-the-way crosswalk, and just jaywalking across over to our own street.
Pete's school in his district also recognized National Walk-to-School day, but he was all on his own, no Sheriff's deputies in sight.
Here's some photos from his school:
Where did you walk today?
2 comments:
My kids always looked forward to walk to school day at Grandview, getting the sticker, donut, etc... but never did we have the sheriff! Just our nearly blind, but OH SO dedicated crossing guard, Bruce.
I have to admit I love that Zach's Kindy is all day. I remember those days of 3-4 trips to the school dropping off and picking up... Just imagine when Tay's in Kindy and I'll probably have a kid in every different school in town.
Donuts are so a no-no in our school district - we used to have once a year a "Muffins with Mom" and then a "Donuts with Dad" morning - now it is just "Morning with Mom" and "Daybreak with Dad" and I think they serve bagels or something. lame.
and, in the spirit of full disclosure I should probably say that we really only walk in the morning - when I take Jed to Kindergarten I drive him, when I pick him up I drive down and park, walk him home (pushing him in the stroller - its been HOT here!)and then walk him back down an hour later to pick up all of the kids which I then drive home in the car I had parked there earlier. I really have it down to a system...
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