Walk to School “turkey trot” successful again this year

Mrs. Kathy O’Mara reacts to a “turkey joke” last Monday at Walk to School’s turkey trot.

Klager first-grade teacher Kathy O’Mara takes her job as Walk to School Coordinator seriously. But she also has a lot of fun with the position, and she knows that keeping it fun is the way to keep the kids interested, too.

So, holidays are always a time when special themes and prizes generate some extra excitement around the daily walk-to-school routines.

On Monday, November 25, about 55 kids (including nine new participants) and 16 adults participated in the Walk to School Turkey Trot. Turkey headbands (or in Mrs. O’Mara’s case, a turkey hat!) adorned the heads of many of the students who came out to walk on that special day. On Tuesday, November 26, another large group of around 25 kids and adults made the trek to school from the high school buses.

Walk to School started out as a once a week program and this year has expanded to every day of the week, with Monday, Wednesday, and Friday meet-ups at the Wurster Park gazebo starting at 7:30 am, and at Chi-Bro Park at 7:45 am. New walkers are always welcomed. In addition, On Tuesdays and Thursdays, volunteers meet the kids at the high school bus drop off, and walk with them to either Klager or Riverside Schools (permission slips must be on file for kids to walk from the bus drop off).

Join the fun of Walk to School. Students and adults are all welcomed to participate!

Bus students who walked from the high school to Klager Elementary on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

Walkers at Chi-Bro on Monday, Nov. 25.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.