Delaware Celebrates Walk To School Week

Dover -- The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) in partnership with Safe Kids Delaware, Delaware Risk Watch, FEDEX Express, A. I. DuPont Hospital for Children, and the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension are promoting National Walk to School Week October 5 - October 8. Schools across the state have planned events throughout the month of October in honor of National Walk to School Month. Millions of school children from 42 countries around the world will participate in various activities this October in recognition of International Walk to School (IWALK) month.

The purpose of Walk to School Week is to enable and encourage children to safely walk and bike to and from school. These activities encourage children to be healthy from an early age. The following are the events that DelDOT and partners are assisting with:

Monday, October 5
Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Dover will be teaching their Kindergarteners through 4th graders pedestrian safety, with specific presentations on visibility for night time walking, safe crossing at crosswalks, large vehicle hazards, and bus safety.

Milton Elementary School in Milton will be hosting an afterschool walk to school event. Children of all ages will listen to several pedestrian safety presentations before taking a 20 minute walk off-campus. The walk will be educational in nature, providing kids the opportunity to gain valuable safety skills.

Tuesday, October 6
Governor Jack Markell will be a crossing guard before school at the Benjamin Banneker Elementary School in Milford. Governor Markell will also be presenting a proclamation for National Walk to School Week to Assistant Principal Nancy Carnevale.

Benjamin Banneker Elementary School will also host a Safety Day for all grades. Presentations will teach kids valuable fire, bicycle, pedestrian, playground, large vehicle, and bus safety skills. The Delaware State Police will be conducting a K-9 demonstration, and the Milford Department of Parks & Recreation will organize a special Safety Olympics relay.

Wednesday, October 7
Downes Elementary School in Newark will be celebrating National Walk to School Day by meeting approximately 150 students at Handloff Park before walking to school as a large group. Along the way, presenters will teach the kids valuable pedestrian safety skills.

Thursday, October 8
Lake Forest Central Elementary School in Harrington is hosting a Safety Expo for nearly 600 4th and 5th graders. Pedestrian safety is just one of several presentations planned for the entire day.

The Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) Program is an exceptional safety program for students to walk and bicycle to school safely. Walking to school promotes safety, good health, concern for the environment, a sense of community and physical activity among children. Communities are encouraged to pick a day, a week, once a week or the entire month to celebrate the event and draw attention to these issues.