St. Michael's Participating in International Walk to School Day on Oct. 3
Twenty-nine schools will participate across the state.
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Twenty-nine Rhode Island schools have signed up across the state to celebrate International Walk to School Day on October 3, including St. Michael's Country Day School. School principals, classroom teachers, school nurses, and/or physical education instructors have all helped get their school involved in a promotion that highlights both academic performance and individual health.
The main event will be held at the Kevin Coleman Elementary School in Woonsocket, where Coleman Principal Lisa Jacques, Miss Rhode Island Kelsey Fournier, RI Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School director Steve Church, and state Walk to School Day coordinator Eugenia Marks will be speakers.
The speaking event will begin at 8:45 a.m.
Studies have shown that exercise reduces stress and improves test scores, as well as helping to curb obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Eighteen percent of Rhode Island seventh graders weigh-in in the obese category, and 33 percent of all Rhode Island students are considered overweight.
International Walk to School Day is the celebration of getting to class by foot or bicycle, sponsored locally by the Coalition for Transportation Choices and its member groups, Audubon Society of RI, AARP, and Sierra Club RI.
RI SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN 2012 INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY
Hampden Meadows School, Barrington
Colt Andrews School, Bristol
Guiteras School, Bristol
Rockwell Elementary School, Bristol
Blackrock School, Coventry
Edward S. Rhodes School, Cranston
Washington Oak School, Coventry
John J. McLaughlin Cumberland Hill School, Cumberland
Kent Heights Elementary, East Providence
Myron J. Francis Elementary School, East Prov
Aquidneck School, Middletown
Forest Avenue School, Middletown
Joseph H. Gaudet Middle School, Middletown
St. Michael's Country Day, Newport
Greystone Elementary School, North Prov
International Charter School, Providence
Mary E Fogarty School, Providence
Montessori Children's House, Providence
Paul Cuffee School, Providence
Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School, Providence
Vartan Gregorian Elementary School, Providence
Anna McCabe School, Smithfield
Gallagher Middle School, Smithfield
Old County Road School, Smithfield
Wakefield Elementary School, South Kingstown
Pocasset School, Tiverton
Tiverton Middle School, Tiverton
Hugh Cole Elementary, Warren
State Street Elementary, Westerly
Bernon Heights School, Woonsocket
Kevin K. Coleman Elementary School, Woonsocket
Leo A. Savoie School, Woonsocket
Viola Berard School, Woonsocket
Bari George
8:07 am on Monday, October 1, 2012
Happy to report that Thompson Middle School in Newport is also participating in Walk and Bike to School on October 3 :) Students will be greeted by AARP and Bike Newport and bicyclists can register their bikes on site. Did you know?: Kids who are physically active do better in school. Check out the report here: http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/2012/09/18/more-‐they-‐burn-‐better-‐they-‐learn
Chrissie Readwin
12:29 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
I walk my kids to/from St.Michael's school most days, so this is a great initiative. However, since starting in September, we have nearly been knocked down twice crossing Memorial Boulevard on the pedestrian crossing from Cliff Ave to Gibbs Ave. The crossing isn't particularly visible as drivers come down the hill towards first beach and people drive too fast. Something needs to be done about road safety if we are to encourage more people to walk their kids to school.