Walking program gets students off the bus and exercising

Scott City students will be hopping on the walking school bus Friday.

Students will be celebrating International Walk to School Month by organizing a districtwide walk to school.

"It's to promote physical fitness in children," said Laura Lacey, vice president of the Parent Teacher Organization.

She said middle school students will start at 7 a.m. at the Rhodes 101 gas station on Main Street. From there, they will travel west and pick up younger students at five other locations.

Because the path to school includes crossing Interstate 55, there will be a police escort to help students through the intersection. Students will also be wearing yellow T-shirts, she said.

Elementary school principal Courtney Kern said the event will encourage students to exercise.

"It's really just a simple concept, and for us it's not always that easy," she said.

Even though it is more difficult for students in Scott City to walk to school, she said there are other ways for children to stay active.

"Just turn off those TVs and get outside," she said.

Alma Schrader Elementary in the Cape Girardeau School District has been celebrating the event since 2005. The school has a walking program funded by the Safe Route to School grant through the Missouri Department of Transportation grant, said Dr. Mark Langenfeld, who helps organize the school's walking program. The $10,000 two-year grant started last year. Langenfeld, a professor of health, human performance, and recreation and biology at Southeast Missouri State University, said the money is used for training, background checks and student incentives.

To kick off the program, students will meet at Dennis Scivally Park at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 7, International Walk to School Day.

The program will continue every Wednesday until Nov. 18 and will begin again in the spring. Langenfeld said student volunteers from Southeast and teachers will be drivers for the walking bus.

Since the event started, it brought attention to the lack of neighborhood sidewalks in the area, he said. The city responded and made the area around the school more walkable, he said.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

3000 Main St., Scott City, MO

1360 Randol Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO