Walk to School Wednesdays wrap-up

Riverside walkers outnumbered those from Klager. Approximately 45–50 kids participated in the event.

“You can’t rain on our parade!“

Although there may have been a few walkers who were wishing for the nicer weather of the previous days, there was a great turnout for the final Walk to School Wednesday after a two-year hiatus on May 18, 2022.

The “reunion” of the walkers — both student and adult — was long-awaited as the last Walk to School had been held Friday, March 13, 2020, before school closed for the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, everyone thought it was “just for a few weeks“ and we would resume once the warm weather returned, but everyone knows how that turned out.

Two years later, after the retirements of Walk to School coordinator Kathy O’Mara in 2020 and, more recently, staunch supporter and Village Manager Jeff Wallace in April, the kids and the adult volunteers gathered to walk once again, get some fun prizes, and even to sing “Happy Retirement to You.“ School staff, school board members, village council members, and even Matt Pegouskie from 5 Healthy Towns joined the parents, grandparents, and other volunteers who accompanied the students along the way.

Riverside walkers outnumbered the 21 who walked to Klager Elementary, but that’s mostly because the Klager walkers from two years ago are now primarily at Riverside School! The adults were surprised by how much even the littlest walkers had grown up from the last time they had been together.

Rain and cooler temperatures plagued the walk time that began at 7:30am, but there were smiles all around and plenty of umbrellas to keep nearly everyone dry.

Mrs. O’Mara reminds all of the kids to keep on walking to stay healthy!

Prizes galore were just part of the fun, provided by retired Walk to School coordinator Mrs. Kathy O’Mara.

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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.