Woonsocket Schools Set For Walk To School Day

Kevin K. Coleman Elementary School, Leo A. Savoie School, and Viola Berard School are among 29 Rhode Island schools celebrating International Walk to School Day this morning.

International Walk to School Day is the celebration of getting to class by foot or bicycle, sponsored locally by the Coalition for Transportation Choices and its member groups, Audubon Society of RI, AARP, and Sierra Club RI.

Since its founding in 1997, the event has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school and a celebration each October. Today, thousands of schools across America – from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico – participate every year.

Lisa Jacques, the new principal at Coleman Elementary, replacing former Coleman and Fifth Avenue Schools principal Ronald Celio, said most of the students at the school walk to class. "So we kind of participate in walk to school day every day," Jacques said.

Jacques, Coleman students and teachers will be joined by Miss Rhode Island Kelsey Fournier, RI Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School director Steve Church, state Walk to School Day coordinator Eugenia Marks, and Woonsocket Mayor Leo Fontaine this morning.

Bernon Heights School will also observe Walk to School Day, according to Principal George Nasuti, but on Thursday.