Added on April 4, 2016 Sara Swanson

Bus riders participate in Klager’s Walk-to-School Wednesday

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Klager students who ride the bus to school had the option last Wednesday of being dropped off at the High School and walking to Klager as part of a special “Walk-to-School Wednesday.”

Last Wednesday between 70 and 80 elementary students and adults participated in Klager’s weekly Walk-to-School Wednesday. While students who live close enough to the school to walk and students whose parents drop them off can easily participate every week, this week was special for bus riders who rarely or never have the opportunity to participate.

The regular participants met as usual at ChiBro park with event coordinator and Klager teacher, Sarah O’Mara. On the other side of Klager, every student who returned a permission slip was dropped off at Manchester High School and met by volunteers who corralled them together and formed a second walking group. The two groups left their locations at 7:45 am and met on the sidewalk in front of Klager.

O’Mara hopes that this becomes a monthly option for bus riders. “Our plan is to offer students who ride the bus a chance to take part again in April and May,” she said.

Walk-to-School Wednesdays is part of the Safe Routes to School program and is funded by the 5 Healthy Towns Foundation through the Manchester Wellness Coalition. The program encourages and enables children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school. O’Mara’s role as cooordinator is “to get community members, fellow staff members, kids to come out and walk to school on Wednesdays.” She further explained, “This is my first year as head of the program. I encourage kids to come and join in the fun at school. Whether it is at recess, in the hallway or even during lunch … Each week we talk to the students about the benefits of walking to promote healthy and active lifestyles from an early age.”

Since taking on this job she has tried to make more people aware of the program and hopes to continue to see it grow. She has implemented a “fun Wednesday” once a month to try to create more involvement. This Wednesday was one of those and students who walked received leprechaun hats to color and coins. O’Mara stated that those days do seem to attract more students.

“Walk-to-School Wednesday” regulars begin to gather in ChiBro Park’s parking lot.

Each walker got leprechaun coins in addition to the plastic foot they receive each time they participate in the walk.

Here comes the group of bus riders dropped off at the High School.

Lots of students participated, despite the chilly weather.

Principal Karin Villarreal stopped the traffic pulling in and out of Klager’s driveway so the group of bus riders could cross to join the other group of walkers. Note: It was also “wacky sock” day for March is Reading Month.