"We completed our walk to school day today and had 90 student participants along with our SUPERINTENDENT and me, the little old principal!!!  

It was fun and we made it simple……I met students about a half mile or more from the school and we walked together. Safety Patrollers guarded the sidewalks and joined in as we passed by. Each walker received a plastic token of a tennis shoe to tie on a shoelace or attach to a key chain."


AuSable Primary School and Grayling Elementary School (Grayling)- submitted by Mike Dunckel

"We are a rural school district that cover 435 square miles. We choose to meet at the Michigan Crime Lab for parking, space and safety reasons. The buses dropped off the children. Volunteers gathered groups of students and put them on their walking school buses. The weather was gray and slightly wet, but we made it to school before it started to rain. We arranged to have a quick "grab and go" breakfast so the student did not miss out on their meal. We allowed all students wearing their "Walk to School Day" sticker to be late for class. It was a great event and the children had fun."


David Scott Elementary School (DeWitt)- submitted by Jeanne O'Brien

"We had a remote drop off for all of our bus riders allowing everyone to walk to school!"


Union City Elementary School (Union City)- submitted by Karen McFeters

"We celebrated by boarding buses to our high school and walked the mile+ back to our elementary school. We followed the safest route back to the elementary school."


Roosevelt Elementary School (Stevensville)- submitted by Megan Green

"Unfortunately, it was rainy and cold for W2SD this year, so some things didn't happen (e.g. cheerleaders were going to dress up and walk with the kids to school), and bottom line participation was affected. Teachers talked about the event with the kids; one teacher and her class made up a song to "the wheels on the bus" ("this is the way we walk to school, walk to school, walk to school..."). The police, fire and township officials got involved in helping walk kids to school from a drop-off point and/or crossing busy roads. Parents formed walking school busses. Kids who rode the bus or in a car could walk a path we marked out around the school, and be credited as walkers."


Barhitte Elementary School (Burton)- submitted by Arlene Wolfling

"Walk to School Day was on October 10th, 2008 to coincide with Homecoming. Students wore school colors (Red & White) and with their teachers walked the school walking track for a period of 15-20 minutes during the day. I made an announcement over the PA in the AM stressing some safety tips for walking to school and the purpose of Walk to School Day. Students were each given the green walk to school day stickers as well as a coloring sheet/word search puzzle that I found on the Safe Routes website."


North Elementary School (Iron Mountain)- submitted by Toni Strutz

"Children and their families walked to school. A fire truck was parked at the end of the route. This has become a tradition for our Walk to School Days. In addition, there is a walking program currently going on at the school. If a child walked to school that day, they received bonus laps."


Eastover Elementary School (Bloomfield Hills)- submitted by Janet Mutz

"Our students came to school as usual. Each grade level was called down one at a time and walked a one mile route through a nearby neighborhood. Our principal led the walk. Signs were carried by classes. The PTO moms set up a water table along the route. A police officer blocked the road in front of our school and helped us cross the street. At the end of the walk students returned to their classes. The PTO provided fresh apples for a snack, grown locally. We wanted to keep it simple and nice. Many parents come to walk with their children, FUN DAY! I took many pictures and posted them on the bulletin board outside the gym."


Hughes Elementary School (Marshall)- submitted by Tom Hanson

"Most of our students come to school on a bus so we walk at school. We walk outside before school until the bell rings."


George Long Elementary School (Grass Lake)- submitted by JoAnn Karle

"We invited all students and parents to walk with us. Despite the rain, we had a good turnout. Two local newspapers joined us as well."


North Elementary School (Birch Run)- submitted by Heidi Periard

"Promoted the activity through newsletters and school announcements - used an alternate location for the bus drop off to allow students that are bused the opportunity to walk to school. Our local church that is approximately 6 blocks away allowed us to use their parking lot. We distributed the stickers."


Myers Elementary School (Taylor)- submitted by Marilyn Vargo

"We advertised the event on morning announcements and gave flyers to all students. We invited several of our community partners. American Heart Association representative was present as well as both school nurses. We involved our students that were bused as well."


Blesch Intermediate School (Menominee)- submitted by Peggy Tafelski

"We created a walking school bus and picked up students along a one mile stretch to school."


Anderson Elementary School (Trenton)- submitted by Kathleen Gibson

"'Captains' met students at our 4 'walking corners' with yellow balloons and they walked in together. Trenton police and Lyons Towing donated 2 bikes that were raffled at an assembly.


St. James Elementary School (Bay City)- submitted by Mary Smith

"Because most of our students are dropped off by parents in the morning, we decided to meet in classrooms at first bell, leave school in a line lead by grade 5, and walk around the block together as a school family. We completed our walk to school by walking in the main school door and filing back down the hall to classrooms."


Woodside Elementary School (Hartford)- submitted by Donna Johnson

"Meeting sites were established, maps and letters were included in monthly newsletters, and daily announcements were made inviting students and families to participate in walking to school using safe routes. Community members led the groups and building principals met them at the schools. Stickers were given to participants."


Jefferson Elementary School (Manistee)- submitted by Kevin Schmutzler

"Prizes for participants (backpacks, umbrellas, shoes, bike). Alternate bus drop off and parent drop off. Every student got an apple. School assembly on walking and bicycling safety."


Lincoln Elementary School (South Haven)- submitted by Tracy Spaulding

"We met at a park approximately 1 mile from the school and walked. Upon arrival at school, all participants were treated to a free school breakfast."


Ashley Elementary School (New Baltimore)- submitted by Paula Jernberg

"Met at police station and walked back to school. Gave each student a walker charm."


Lincoln Elementary School (Hudson)- submitted by Delight Creech

"We involve all students by having our school buses drop off at a central location so everyone can walk to school. They were accompanied by parents, grandparents, community leaders and Kiwanis members."


Baraga Area Schools (Baraga)- submitted by Katie Stanaway

"We encouraged each students to walk to school by offering the option to walk from home or to walk on our schools track. On our track we provided walkers with stickers, granola bars and juice."


Lakeview Elementary School (Lakeview)- submitted by Tim Erspamer

"The district bought each student and staff members a Safe Routes to School t-shirt."


Michigamme Elementary School (Port Huron)- submitted by Linda Hall

"Our school does not have a safe route to walk to school so we walk at school. Everyone comes out on the playground and walks the perimeter for 20 minutes."


Lincoln Elementary School (St. Joseph)- submitted by Mike Wagner

"Had students from our high school, police officers, and our Mayor handing out stickers to students who walked or biked to school. Had a drawing for those who walked/rode and gave donated prizes out to 53 students."


Submit your own success stories through the post-event response form.