Announcements

DENVER – Denver Public Schools (DPS) celebrated International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, Oct. 7, to promote walking and bicycling to school.  Dozens of DPS schools participated in the event.

Board of Education member Jill Conrad joined parents and students at Munroe Elementary in a coordinated walk to school followed by a brief presentation to highlight the health and environmental benefits of walking and bicycling to school.

Munroe Elementary was chosen as the site for a parade walk because of its commitment to health and the environment, including a unique “Mustangs on the Move” walk to school program, their vegetable garden and cooking program and the involvement of the Westwood neighborhood community.

Parents and guardians were encouraged to walk with their children to school on Oct. 7 to embrace the idea of health, safety and education in their children’s lives. Employers were asked to permit employees to take off time from work to participate in this event -- either to escort their own students to school, or to volunteer at participating schools.

Caption: Students at Munroe participate in a parade walk on Walk to School day. Photos by Bridget Beatty.

The event is part of local and international efforts to raise awareness and establish safe routes to school.

Local sponsors of International Walk to School Day include: Denver Public Schools, City and County of Denver, Denver Public Works, Denver Public Health, LiveWell Westwood, DRCOG, Colorado Department of Transportation, SafeKids Denver Metro and ClifBar Kids.

About International Walk to School Day
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.

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.

The National Center for Safe Routes to School serves as the coordinating agency for Walk to School activities in the USA.

Today, more than 5,000 schools in the USA participate in International Walk to School Day. Nearly 4 million people participate in approximately 40 countries as part of International Walk to School Day.

Walk to School Day began as a simple idea - children and parents, school and local officials walking to school together on a designated day to raise awareness about the benefits of walking and bicycling to school. It is an energizing event, reminding everyone of the simple joy of walking to school, the health benefits of regular daily activity, and the need for safer places to walk and bike for all ages. On this day especially, we ask that schools focus on health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment.

For additional information, please visit these web sites:
International Walk to School in the USA www.walktoschool.org
National Center for Safe Routes to School www.saferoutesinfo.org
For more information about efforts in Denver, contact Scott Romero,
scott_romero@dpsk12.org, (720) 423-8268. 

If you have a story about a Denver Public School or student, e-mail us at Goodnews@dpsk12.org. Please include a photo with your story. Photos of students require a signed media consent form, which you can fax to 720.423.3611.
Click here for a media consent form in Spanish