The Mercury (Pottstown, PA)

BEST FOOT FORWARD

Students hit the streets for ‘Walk to School Day’

- By Evan Brandt ebrandt@21st-centurymed­ia.com @PottstownN­ews on Twitter

POTTSTOWN >> Pottstown students hit the streets Wednesday for Internatio­nal Walk and Bike to School Day.

Because of the borough’s compact size, nearly all students live within a mile of their elementary school so Pottstown prides itself on being a “walking school district,” although the addition of bike lanes in town recently as part of a Safe Routes to School grant has also made biking to school safer as well.

At Rupert Elementary School, whose students have some of the longer walking distances, something called The Walking School Bus has been establishe­d.

Parents and community volunteers meet students at certain “stops” on a pre-arranged route and accompany them to school every morning.

“We already have establishe­d routes that are available to parents on our website. Our Walking School Bus Routes are establishe­d by our Wellness Coordinato­r, Shelby Iezzi. She develops these and gives them to the volunteers,” Rupert Principal Matthew Moyer recently told a reporter for WKYW Newsradio.

“The school publicizes this with parents and students, through social media and other means. The volunteers for our Walking School Bus are all community members,” said Moyer.

“Walking isn’t always seen as a way to engage with others. But, it is a great way to spend time with children and build relationsh­ips,” Moyer said.

Wednesday, Rupert had 106 students walk to school, representi­ng 28 percent of the total student body.

 ?? EMILY OVERDORF — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA ?? Shavaeh Dixon was among the many students who walked to Pottstown’s Franklin Elementary School on Internatio­nal Walk to School Day.
EMILY OVERDORF — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Shavaeh Dixon was among the many students who walked to Pottstown’s Franklin Elementary School on Internatio­nal Walk to School Day.
 ?? KERRI KLINE — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA ?? Students line up and walk together as part of Rupert Elementary School’s Walking School Bus makes its way down Center Avenue on its way to school for Internatio­nal Walk to School Day.
KERRI KLINE — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Students line up and walk together as part of Rupert Elementary School’s Walking School Bus makes its way down Center Avenue on its way to school for Internatio­nal Walk to School Day.

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