Walk to School Day

Our most difficult Walk to School Day challenge in the Lake Pend Oreille School District is location, location, location! Of our seven elementary schools, only three are surrounded by neighborhoods: Washington, Farmin-Stidwell, and Kootenai Elementaries. These neighborhood-based schools celebrate successful Walk to School Days as well as support walking/jogging clubs.

Our four rural schools (Northside, Hope, Sagle, and Southside Elementaries) are meeting the location challenge by offering walk at school celebrations through walking/jogging clubs as well. It takes many reliable adult volunteers and a committed staff to make Walk to School Day and Walking/Jogging Clubs successful. Please sign up to volunteer today!

Our top priority on Walk to School Day is safety. LPOSD strongly suggests that ALL student walkers travel in groups with an adult and/or responsible older sibling. Students should have permission from parents or guardians before walking to school. Adults need to lead by example by demonstrating safe pedestrian skills. Safe pedestrians respect motorists and cross at crosswalks or intersections while obeying the crossing guard or crossing signal.

Please select a safe and age appropriate route for you and your child. Maps are available for those who may wish to park and walk a shorter distance. Obtain permission to park your vehicle at the starting point you've selected. When mapping your route, know how long it takes for your child to travel, and what distance they are able to walk before your Walk to School Day departure. We don't want your children to be tardy...or exhausted when they arrive at school.

We suggest trial walks before the Walk to School Day event. Travel on the sidewalks where possible, and along-side the edge of the roadway, single-file, and facing traffic when sidewalks are not available. Please display brightly colored clothing and wear proper walking shoes. Your family will be easier seen by drivers if you travel in a larger group, so meet up with other families to make it a group event.

HAVE FUN! WALK SAFE!

P.S. Check directly with your school to learn details about your school's Walk to School Day celebration involvement.

International Walk to School Day is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Over time, this event has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school and a celebration – with record breaking participation – each October. Today, thousands of schools across America – from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico – participate every October.

Hey Kids! Walk to School each day as weather permits. Establish a park & walk location for your family.