District One Schools Spartanburg will be joining schools and school districts across the country to celebrate International Carolina Walk to School Day on Oct. 7. District One Schools participates in this national observance during the school day. Students and staff walk on school campuses and municipal areas where safe routes and sidewalks are available. Due to the large number of rural schools in our district with no sidewalks, students do not walk to school and instead walk at school.

Students from every school in District One will be walking along with parents, teachers and community leaders. At Inman Intermediate School, Walk to School Day will coincide with a big community celebration to officially open the Project Fit America outdoor fitness area. Funded by a grant from the LIDS Foundation, the school will officially kick off the program.  Local political and government leaders, as well as various agencies which have partnered with the school district on health and fitness initiatives will also celebrate with the students and staff.

The events across the district will take place at different times during the day with students, parents and community leaders walking along selected routes. Other special activities associated with the walk include all staff members at the district’s central office walking during the day. Each school has additional activities planned around safety when walking and biking, fitness and nutrition, and healthy activities. Check the school’s website for specific plans.

Events are supported by the South Carolina Safe Routes to School Resource Center, a federally funded project of the South Carolina Department of Transportation. District One Schools has partnered with Safe Routes to Schools for several successful initiatives.

Walk to School events work to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and building connections between families, schools and the broader community. The event is being organized by Kelsey Evans, AmeriCorps Vista Volunteer with the United Way of the Piedmont and District One Schools. Walk at School in District One is part of the district’s total health and wellness initiative.

For additional local information, please contact Cathy McMillan at 864-472-2846 or cathy.mcmillan@spart1.org

– Submitted by Paula Brooks