Students, parents and community members enjoyed walking to school together on September 3, the first “Walking School Bus” day this fall. These folks are on the “east route.” Everyone is invited to walk or bike to school on International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 8.
Sawtooth Elementary and Great Expectations schools in Grand Marais will join schools around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on Oct. 8.
Students attending Great Expectations and Sawtooth Elementary are invited to walk or bike to school with a Walking School Bus on that day accompanied by Principal Gwen Carman, Great Expectations School Director Peter James, law enforcement officers, parents, and community volunteers. All student participants will be entered in a drawing for prizes. For students who do not live within walking or biking distance to school, we welcome parents to drop them off at one of the starting locations to join the walk to school.
The event will begin at 7:20 a.m. with kids, parents, and community leaders walking from three starting locations in Grand Marais, with stops at both schools before the school day starts. The West Route meets at Eighth Avenue West and Second Street (passing by Birchwood Apartments on the way). The Central Route meets in front of the Cook County courthouse. The East Route meets at Seventh Avenue West and County Road 7 (leaving at 7:30 a.m. instead of 7:20). Students are welcome to join along the route or meet at the starting location.
Walking and biking to school is a healthy and fun way to start the day. Studies have found that physical activity, such as a walk or bike ride to school, allows students to concentrate better during the school day.
Cook County Safe Routes to School (SRTS) strives to improve the health of kids and our community by making walking and bicycling to school safer, easier, and more enjoyable. In addition to coordinating Walking School Bus days in the fall and spring, SRTS also offers the annual bike rodeo in the spring, new in-school bike education, and works to create safer routes with improved pedestrian and bicyclist infrastructure, crossing guard equipment, and community signage.
For more information about International Walk to School Day or Cook County Safe Routes to School, contact SRTS Coordinator Maren Webb, at 218-387- 2330.
Leave a Reply