Local elementary school students participated in “Walk and Roll to School Day” on Wednesday 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 and the Clinton County Health Department 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. 139 students were welcomed into the building from the event for Green Meadows and Blue Ridge, and 206 students were welcomed at Suncrest, marking 345 students that participated Wednesday morning. Many of the students were accompanied by their families and friends throughout the walk, which Archibald stated was a welcomed addition.
“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.”
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.
“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.”
Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets expressed that joining the event was an exciting opportunity to further connect with the students of Frankfort, and she stated that many of the students expressed their excitement for meeting local law enforcement officers.
“We had local officials along with the police department walk with the students,” Sheets said. “The kids, I think, love it. I think they love seeing the people being interested in them and being a part of these types of activities, and I know they love the police officers.”
Healthy Communities staff members passed around flashing lights, glow-in-the-dark slap bracelets and stickers as a reward for the students who participated. Each school that participated also received a framed certificate for their participation.
Archibald stated that the next “walk to school” event will occur on or around May 8, 2024. Archibald commented that while the theme of the spring iteration is “Bike and Roll,” all modes of physical activity will be accepted for the 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.”
Vielee stated that Bear, the incoming Suncrest service dog, will be present at next year’s event and will begin appearing at upcoming events at Suncrest in the near future. Suncrest will be hosting Title One Night on November 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Suncrest with the theme of social-emotional learning and health.