|
Valley View celebrates 20th International Walk
to School Day |
|
October 6, 2016 |
 |
| An
enthusiastic group of Valley View
students and accompanying adults gather
to await the start of the 20th annual
Valley View International Walk to School
Day early Wednesday morning. |
|
Valley View Elementary students joined with
students around the world in celebrating the
20th year of International Walk to School Day on
Wednesday, October 5.
The Valley View students and their parents,
guardians, relatives and friends met at the City
Parking Lot in downtown Bonners Ferry at 7 a.m.
There was a little chill to the air, and an
occasional raindrop noted here and there, but
all seemed invigorated by the refreshing cool
morning.
There was excitement in the air as everyone
waited to begin the walk to school.
 |
|
Valley View
students, guests and chaperones head up
Bonners Ferry's South Hill. |
Physical Education teacher Paula Petesch called
the group of students and their accompanying
adults to order, explained the route and
recommendations for safe walking and introduced
special guests. Those guests were John Beck,
retired physical education teacher at Valley
View, who has participated in around 15 Walk to
School Days over the years, Gary Pflueger,
Superintendent of Boundary County Schools, and
David Sims, Mayor of Bonners Ferry.
All participated in the walk with the students.
From the City Parking Lot, the group of
approximately 35 students, with almost as many
adults, headed up the South Hill, with officers
from the Bonners Ferry Police Department
providing traffic control and monitoring safety.
Upon reaching the top of the South Hill, the
group left Highway 95 and cut through quieter
neighborhood streets, taking around half an hour
to cover the distance of approximately 2.5
miles.
On arriving for their day at school, the kids
seemed to be just about as enthusiastic as they
were to begin the walk.
Walk to School Day began in 1997 as an event to
encourage "walkable communities." The event has
grown over the years, and is now celebrated
every October by thousands of schools across the
United States, along with schools from over 40
countries around the world.
There is also a Bike to School Day, which began
in 2012. |
|
Questions or comments about this
article?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
