International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 3 – Community Advisory

International Walk to School Day is an annual event that promotes the benefits of walking to school. Children, parents, teachers, and community leaders in Takoma Park and around the world will join forces on October 3 to enhance child pedestrian safety, physical activity and strengthen community involvement. Celebrations in Takoma Park will involve five area schools: Takoma Park, Piney Branch, Rolling Terrace and East Silver Spring Elementary Schools and Takoma Park Middle School. Piney Branch, the National Media Site for the National Center Safe Routes to School, will host U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation, John Porcari, who will present a special recognition award to the Takoma Park Safe Routes to School program. Mayor Williams and Chief Goldberg are expected to visit the three Takoma Park Schools. Below is information for each school:
Piney Branch Elementary School8:45 a.m. – Meet at 7620 Maple Avenue to join Piney Branch students, staff and parents for the walk.
9:05 a.m. – Walk to Piney Branch Elementary School.
9:20 a.m. – Assembly, Front of Piney Branch Elementary School
Welcome: Rachel DuBois, Acting Principal, Piney Branch Elementary School
Pledge: Safety Patrols will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and the Safety Patrol Pledge
Speakers:
Lauren Marchetti, Director, National Center for Safe Routes to School
John D. Porcari, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation
Bruce Williams, Mayor, Takoma Park, and Lucy Neher, Takoma Park Safe Routes Coordinator
Matthew Thornton, Member, Safe Kids Worldwide Board of Directors, and Senior VP of U.S. Operations, FedEx
Alan Goldberg, Chief, Takoma Park Police Department
Closing: Rachel DuBois
Takoma Park Elementary School8:30 a.m. – Meet on Maple Avenue in front of the Community Center
8:35 a.m. – Depart for Takoma Park Elementary School
8:40 a.m. – Police Chief and Mayor walk with students, talk with parents, no formal remarks
Rolling Terrace Elementary School8:00 a.m. – Meet at Long Branch-Garland Park, corner of Garland Avenue and Domer Avenue
8:20 a.m. – Walk to Rolling Terrace Elementary School, 705 Bayfield Road
East Silver Spring Elementary School8:30 a.m. – Meet at Silver Spring Police Station, 801 Sligo Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland
9:10 a.m. – Walk begins
9:20 a.m. – Arrive at East Silver Spring Elementary School, 631 Silver Spring Avenue
Takoma Park Middle SchoolStudents will be encouraged to walk or ride bikes or skateboards to school. Tables will be set up at both entrances to the parking lot from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and staffed by parents to greet walkers with snacks and giveaways. Most students will arrive between 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m.
Walk to School Day 2012 at Piney Branch Elementary School is jointly sponsored by:
Maryland Safe Routes to School
Piney Branch Elementary School
Safe Kids Montgomery County
Takoma Park Police Department
Takoma Park Safe Routes to School
FedEx
National Center Safe Routes to School
Safe Kids Worldwide
Safe Routes to School National Partnership
If you have any questions, please contact Lucy Neher, Coordinator, Safe Routes to School at lucyn@takomagov.org
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