By Leslie Moriarty
Herald Writer
MONROE — Remember all those times your parents told you stories about how far they had to walk to school?
Now’s your chance to get back at them. Convince them they need to walk to school with you.
The Monroe School District and the Monroe Police Department are sponsoring the second annual "Walk our Children to School Day" Sept. 14.
The program is part of a national program designed to help families identify safe walking routes to and from school, and to promote healthy physical activity.
It also is designed to help raise drivers’ awareness of pedestrians and to promote people thinking about carpooling or walking together to school.
On Walk our Children to School Day, people can gather at these locations: The Monroe Chamber of Commerce, 110 Lewis St., North Kelsey Street, at the football field entrance, St. Mary of the Valley Parking lot and the Vineyard Church parking lot.
The focus is on downtown-area schools.
Parents, students, siblings and community members should gather about 8 a.m. for refreshments. Walking will begin at 8:20 a.m. Groups will walk to Frank Wagner Elementary and Middle, Monroe Christian and Monroe Middle schools.
Safety information and materials will be provided at the meeting locations.
Others who attend schools not in the focus area are encouraged to organize walking groups for Sept. 14 also.
Monroe police have gathered information that indicates that 80 percent of families use automobiles to get where they are going. That contributes to physical inactivity along with not allowing students to get to know their neighborhoods.
Walk our Children to School Day helps establish healthy and safe habits.
The program is another step in the efforts to promote neighborhood partnerships in Monroe.
For more information, call Marlene Pitocco at 360-794-6300.
You can call Herald Writer Leslie Moriarty at 425-339-3436
or send e-mail to moriarty@heraldnet.com.
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