Murray Gets Kids Walking to School

Plans Are Afoot to Encourage Even More Walking Next Year

by Sara Coady; photos by Nazanine Scheuer

(May 29, 2008) Murray Avenue School students were encouraged to “take an extra walk” this year as part of the annual Spring Walk to School Week from May 12 to 16. Every year the PTA organizes the event to celebrate the health and environmental benefits of walking to school. New for this year was an initiative to encourage students to walk every day of Walk to School Week.

Town Supervisor Valerie O'Keeffe and Principal Jennifer Scazafave congratulated Murray Walkers of the Week.

Student walkers were given cards that were punched daily on the way to school by parent volunteers. Students who had all five days punched were honored as “Walkers of the Week.”

An impressive 264 Murray students achieved “Walkers of the Week” status and were recognized through announcements and a large poster in the school’s front hallway. Town Supervisor Valerie O’Keeffe and Youth Officer Detective Bob Reynolds visited Murray on May 22 to congratulate the Walkers of the Week on their accomplishment. Supervisor O’Keeffe presented the students with a proclamation signed by all the Town Council members, applauding their achievement and encouraging them to keep walking.

Next Steps

PTA volunteers noted that there were more students walking to school during the spring event than they had ever seen before. For next year, the school hopes to encourage even more walking by more students and on more days. The Walk to School committee is teaming with the Wellness committee and the newly formed "Green Tigers" environmental group to develop programs to keep the children motivated - and to keep them walking.

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