Nellie Bennett Students Lace Up for Annual Walk to School Day

The clouds finally lifted and the sun shone brightly for Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School's annual Walk to School Day event on Wednesday, October 6th.

The walk, held in connection with International Walk to School Day drew approximately 500 Nellie Bennett students joining an estimated 5,000 schools from around the world to participate in the Day's activities. International Walk to School Day was organized by the federal Safe Routes to School program and works to create safer routes for walking and bicycling to school, while emphasizing the importance of increased physical activity.

The students walked up in droves accompanied by parents, siblings and in the case of several very lucky students, some of their teachers or principal James Karaba.

Upon arrival assorted teachers, Superintendent of Schools Vincent Smith, Supervisor of Pupil Personnel Services Rita Miller, Director of Curriculum & Instruction Robert Alfonse, and Point Pleasant Borough Police Officers Mike Colwell and Kevin Aurin greeted the walkers.

"Walk to School Day is a great event because it helps to foster the school's dedication to promoting physical fitness among our students," said Physical Education Teacher Greg Akins.  “All students are able to participate in some way regardless of how far away they live from school or any other limitations.”

According to Coach Akins Walk to School Day is always highly anticipated in the school event and combines the walk with various in-school activities beginning with the Physical Education Teacher Pedometer Contest.

"The school's three physical education teachers wear pedometers on a day leading up to Walk to School Day," said Coach Akins. "Students each submit a guess of the highest amount of steps the winning teacher took throughout day and the five closest guessers receive a personal escort to school from myself, one of my fellow Nellie Bennett teachers, or Principal Karaba."

Coach Akins said the other teachers that volunteered to walk with students were Mr. Charles Nied, Mrs. Joyce Thorn and Mrs. Diane McHugh.
"It was great to see so many people participate in this year's event," Mr. Akins said.

Mr. Akins said if a student could not walk to school they could participate by wearing sports jerseys or the colors of their favorite team and could get additional exercise on an outdoor walking track set up at the Nellie Bennett field.

"Hopefully today's events will encourage students to walk or bike to school as often as possible," he continued

Decked out in a New York Giants jersey, Principal James Karaba shared Coach Akins sentiment, "Walk to School Day not only helps to educate students about safe routes to take when walking to school but also encourages environmental concern and helps to develop relationships between students and their parents and community leaders.“

“The physical education teachers and the PTO really did a great job of organizing this event," added Mr. Karaba. “It was obvious that everyone had a great time.”