York Town News
Getting to school the old-fashioned way in the name of good health
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - Whether your child is in the first grade or in the final year of middle school, there will be plenty of opportunities throughout this month to make healthy choices on the way to school.That is because, for the third year now, the York School Department is teaming up with the York Police Department and School Resource Officer Scott Cogger to offer Walk to School and Bike to School events for local students.
Today, Wednesday, Oct. 11, York Middle School students were offered their second chance this month to choose foot-powered modes of transportation in the early morning hours before school. York Middle School students have two more such days scheduled on the next two Wednesdays, Oct. 18 and 25.
York's youngest students will have their first Walk to School Day this Friday, Oct. 13, with a second day scheduled for Oct. 27.
As Village Physical Education teacher Andy Gray noted in his announcement of the upcoming events for this school year, the goal is to "boost physical activity and exercise."
Children who live too far from school to walk to Village may be dropped off at the York Public Library by 8 a.m. to depart with police and parent volunteers for the school at 8:10 a.m. As Village serves grades K through 2, there will be only a walking option and not a bike event.
Coastal Ridge students will have the option of either walking to school or riding their bikes on Friday, Oct. 20.
Any student who lives too far away from school to safely walk or bike may be dropped off at York High School by 8:10 a.m. to depart with volunteers and local police from the Webber Road entrance. Long Sands Road will be partially closed that morning for students to ride their bikes on the road as they travel to CRES.
Cogger noted that October is bike/walk to school month and has been a favorite with the town's elementary school students ever since the first event was held in 2004.
"We never anticipated such a turnout," he said of that event.
For middle school students, Cogger, said, "There will be chaperones along the route." He added he hopes more YMS students will join in the upcoming Walk and Wheel Wednesdays and take advantage of the health benefits of a walk or ride to school.
Safe Routes to School, a statewide effort to increase bicycling and walking to school, is offered in partnership with the Maine Department of Transportation and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.
According to the coalition, Bike and Walk to School Day has been expanded to cover the entire month with a goal of "reminding parents and children alike of the simple joy of walking to school. It also serves as an opportunity to focus on the importance of physical activity, safety, air quality and walkable communities."
For more, visit www.BikeMaine.org.
