– Photo courtesy of FPD
The students of local elementary schools and community members were welcomed to bike, roll and walk to school this morning for a chance to connect together, learn from city and county officials and gain exercise before the school day.
Local elementary school students participated in “Bike and Roll to School Day” this morning to encourage physical activity and connect with their peers and local community leaders before morning classes began at Suncrest Elementary School, Green Meadows Intermediate School and Blue Ridge Primary School.
The event was organized and sponsored by Healthy Communities of Clinton County to encourage students to start their morning with an activity that statistically impacts physical health as well as mental health. Lorra Archibald, Healthy Communities Executive Director, stated that the students that walk or roll to school experience improved test scores, fewer sick days, improved mental health and physical health, improved sleep and more.
“There is safety in numbers, and they have adult supervision doing it, and the kids have fun if they’re together,” Archibald said. “They’re with their friends. They’re having a good time, and it makes it more enjoyable. We know that kids who walk to school get a jump start on the day.”
The students were met at three locations for Suncrest’s walk and two locations for the walk to Green Meadows and Blue Ridge. Over 100 students were welcomed into the building for the event for Green Meadows and Blue Ridge, and around 200 students were welcomed at Suncrest, marking a high participation for the event similar to the event held in the fall. Many of the students were accompanied by their families and friends throughout the walk, which Archibald stated was a welcomed addition.
Photo courtesy of FPD.“The kid’s whose families walked with them were so excited to introduce their families to the other adults that were participating in the walk to school day,” Archibald. “I just think that’s a neat thing.”
Students leading the lines were tasked with displaying the “Walking School Bus” banner as they paraded through the streets. A walking school bus forms when a group of children walk to school together with one or more adults.
“The kids loved carrying the walking school bus banners,” Archibald said. “They think it’s neat to carry the banner. That’s like the shield of honor.”
During the fall event, Diane Vielee, Suncrest Principal, expressed that the event proved to be a success as the students leaped at the opportunity to join their friends, families, teachers and local community leaders in the group as the group approached their pick-up points, and the schools remained excited as the spring date for the event approached.
“The kids were super excited,” Vielee said. “Parents were dropping them off. Some parents walked with us, which was encouraged if they wanted to. As we walked, we just picked up more and more people along the way. By the end, we had a pretty good group, and kids were even jumping out of their cars that were waiting in the car rider line to walk in with us. They had a blast.”
Vielee continued to comment that the walk and roll allows for the students to connect with each other outside of an academic setting, and she formed personal relationships with many students throughout the walk that help the students learn more about their school’s leadership.
“I think it’s a great way to bring the community together and interact with the students in a different way,” Vielee said. “I had the best conversations with kids coming in. It wasn’t necessarily about anything academic. It was more on a personal level, getting to know them better, them getting to know me better, and we just had a lot of laughs and fun. We were taking pictures and being silly.”
Vielee stated that the event welcomed numerous community leaders who worked to form relationships with the students of Suncrest, Green Meadows and Blue Ridge. The students were able to converse with members of the Healthy Communities staff, the Health Department staff, the Mayor’s Office, the Frankfort Police Department, the Community Schools of Frankfort administration team and many more throughout the morning.
“I just appreciated all the support from the community,” Vielee said. “The mayor took time out of her busy, busy, busy life to come and engage with our students along with all the law enforcement that walked with us. The students got to see them on a different level, and they talked to them like kids want to be talked to, engaged with them and joked around with them.”
The Frankfort Police Department officers joined the children as they were escorted to their schools to ensure their safety and bond with the community throughout the walk.
“We always look forward in participating in this event and walking students to school,” the department released. “We are thankful for the partnerships we have with Healthy Communities and the Community Schools of Frankfort.”
Archibald stated that while the event was in celebration of “Bike and Roll to School Day,” children were permitted to participate with any mode of physical activity to continue the success of the event and the ensure the benefits of the morning exercise event.
“Not all kids have bikes, so it’s just about kids using physical activity to get to school whether that’s walking, biking or rolling,” Archibald said. “That rolling can be in a wheelchair, it can be on a skateboard, it can be on a scooter as long as it’s not electric powered. As long as they’re using physical activity to get to school, we count it.”
The next event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 3 for “International Walk to School Day.”