This morning, I joined Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, AISD Police Chief Ernesto Riojas, and lots of students and families from Wooldridge Elementary School, as they walked to school as part of “International Walk to School Day.” Wellness lessons need to start early, and I was thrilled to model good, healthy behavior by walking with our students.I emphasized to students and parents the importance of staying healthy so that students are prepared to succeed in school. Students who get exercise, nutritious meals, and plenty of sleep are more ready to learn.
More than 600 people participated in the walk. I was delighted to see such a large crowd, and lots of smiles from students and their parents. What a great example of strong parent involvement!
This event, which was organized locally by Safe Kids Austin, is a worldwide day of celebration to get kids and parents out of their cars and on their feet to walk or bike to school. We are delighted to have Safe Kids Austin as a partner for the 11th year in a row!
Encouraging exercise for students and their parents, while also promoting child pedestrian safety, is a top priority for our district. AISD elementary students focus on eight wellness concepts each school year, including nutrition, cardiovascular health, stress management, and others.
To view a map of the walking route, please visit http://g.co/maps/3ngty.
Thank you to the Wooldridge Quails, Safe Kids Austin, and our police chiefs for making International Walk to School Day a great success!
