Walk-to-school days now monthly





Calabasas elementary schools will participate in monthly walk-to-school days as a way to reduce traffic before and after school.


In October, elementary schools in the city participated for the first time in a national Walk-to-School Day. The streets surrounding the campuses were much less congested than when parents drive kids to school, according to city officials, school staff and others.


"Because the event was so successful and because we had such an overwhelming response from the community, the students, the school administration and the district office, we decided to create Walking Wednesdays, which will be the first Wednesday of every month," said Jaimi Garcia of the city of Calabasas, who helped coordinate the first walk-to-school event.


When A.C. Stelle Middle School opened last month, many kids walked to and from school, rode bikes or carpooled. According to Principal Mary Sistrunk, more than 240 kids are walking to school every day and the number is growing, she said.


City and school officials hope to see even higher numbers in March when the first monthly walk-to-school event takes place.


The elementary schools in Calabasas also promote a year-round program called Traffic Busters, which began in 1998. It offers students incentives to walk, bike, shuttle, carpool or come to school early (when traffic isn’t congested).


Students are eligible to win Traffic Busters prizes or awards when they complete forms that say they’ve walked, biked, carpooled, shuttled or arrived early to school on 40 occasions. Forms are available in the offices of Calabasas elementary schools.


"We give out awards only twice a year so that we allow the students enough time to do 40 days," Garcia said.


For more details about Traffic Busters, call Garcia at city hall at (818) 878-4225 or a Calabasas elementary school campus. For information about Walk to School Wednesdays, call Calabasas elementary school campuses.


–Michael Picarella



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