Fred Bird was on hand one Friday morning last month to
greet Edgar Road School kids when they arrived for the start
of the school day.
The baseball Cardinals' mascot was there to help kick off
a new "walking school bus" program at the school in Webster
Groves.
Each Friday, for the rest of the school year, Edgar Road
kids will be encouraged to walk to school, rather than take
the bus or have their parents give them a ride.
Ten-year-old Noah Dent said he only walks to school "sometimes."
But, this morning, he and dozens of his classmates came
on foot. They were met at the front door and signed up to
join the "walking school bus" program for the rest of the
year.
Each kid got a charm bracelet to which they'll be able
to add an additional charm every additional time they make
a Friday walk to school.
Trailnet is one of the metro organizations that helps to
establish "walking school bus" chapters at area schools.
(For additional information about this and other Trailnet
biking and hiking programs, visit www.trailnet.org.)
At the Edgar Road school, parent John Blank was on hand
representing the school's parent-teacher organization. The
PTO will be in charge of the additional Friday morning "walking
school bus" events.
Mr. Blank said about half of the school's kids regularly
walk to school each day. The school is seeking to increase
that number by charting out safe walking routes in surrounding
neighborhoods.
Also, the school picks out surrounding "bus stop" locations
where kids can meet up with other classmates from their
neighborhoods so they'll have company during the walks to
school.
The program also seeks to establish designated school crossing
zones where kids can get across especially busy streets
with safety.
Student Mitchell Kelley was another of the Edgar School
students who met Fred Bird.
For Mitchell, he's almost got a full "walking school bus"
just within the family. In his group that "Fred Bird Friday,"
he had his mother, triplet sisters and another pre-school-age
sibling.
Mitchell said he and his sisters are pretty-much every-day
walkers to school, unless the weather is bad. The family
lives about a half-mile from the school.
Both Noah Dent and Mitchell Kelley said they like to do
things outdoors and stay in shape.
Noah said he often plays soccer in his backyard and likes
to ride his bike around the neighborhood. Edgar Road School
has a physical education program. Noah said he's been playing
volleyball this spring.
Mitchell said he takes part in track at school and runs
twice-a-week after school. He also plays baseball. "And
I like to jump on the trampoline in my backyard," he said.
Another aspect of the "walking school bus" program is a
stress on good nutrition.
Both Noah and Mitchell said he try to eat nutritious foods
and don't eat too much "junk" food.
Noah said his favorite food is watermelon. That food has
natural sugars and vitamins and lots of water content to
promote good digestion.
The "walking school bus" kickoff at Edgar Road School
was coordinated by Cindy Mense, who works for Trailnet.
She not only arranged for Fred Bird's appearance, but also
set up signs around the surrounding neighborhoods promoting
the program.
She brought along interns to serve as a welcoming committee
at the school's front door.
(If your school might like to plan a local "walking
school bus" chapter, you can call Ms. Mense at (314)
436-4324, Ext. 113.)
The Missouri Department of Transportation is supplying
funding for the program.
