Various Oak Ridge Schools will join schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 8.
Students from Jefferson Middle School will be walking to school along with parents, teachers, and some very special guests from a local restaurant.
The JMS event will begin at 6:50 a.m. with kids, parents, and community leaders meeting at National Fitness Center. Walkers will meet at NFC and will walk via sidewalks to JMS.
Other special activities associated with the walk include a visit from the Chik-Fil-A Cows. Chik-Fil-A is also donating coupons for all the participants of National Walk to School Day at JMS.
The event is being organized by Jefferson Middle School Physical Education teacher Katie Saxe and Principal Phil Cox.
If you would like to participate, please see your physical education teacher and request a permission slip. Schools must have a permission slip on file for participants in the event.
Robertsville Middle School will be using WRAM on multiple mornings to announce that Wednesday is National Walk to School Day. They will also be sending parent announcements via Skyward Messenger. Permission slips for student participation will be available in homerooms.
Woodland Elementary School will be sending out notices through the message center and the students who walk to school Wednesday will receive stickers. There are also classes that will be taking a “Walking Field Trip” to Food City.
Linden Elementary School will be encouraging students to walk to school throughout the week. There will be a parent announcement on Skyward Messenger to encourage participation.
Walk to School Day events raise awareness of the need to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, improving pedestrian safety, reducing traffic congestion, and having concern for the environment. The events build connections between families, schools, and the broader community, a press release said.
For information on how your child’s school is participating in the International Walk to School Day, contact Coordinated School Health Coordinator Jenifer Laurendine at (865) 850-8523.
International Walk to School Day was established in the United States in 1997 by the Partnership for a Walkable America. Canada and Great Britain already had walk to school programs in place. In 2000, these three countries joined together to create International Walk to School Day, the press release said.
In May 2006, the National Center for Safe Routes to School was established to assist communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bike to school. They serve as the national coordinating agency for Walk to School activities in the United States.
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