Kansas Schools Prepare to “Walk and Roll” to School on Oct. 7

FORT SCOTT, Kan. — Students and families across Kansas will lace up their shoes, grab their bikes and get moving Oct. 7 as schools take part in Walk and Roll to School Day.

The annual event, supported by the Kansas Department of Transportation's Safe Routes to School program, is in its second year and encourages students and families to walk, bike or roll to school while promoting safe transportation habits and stronger connections within their communities.

Thirty Kansas schools are currently registered to participate, including Eugene Ware Elementary School in Fort Scott.

Mina Query, Principal at Eugene Ware Elementary, said the event gives students an opportunity to be active while also creating time for them to connect with adults before the school day begins.

"We communicate to the community that on a certain day we walk with the students to the school," Query said. "It just encourages them to be more physically active, and it also shows a safe path the kids can take to get to school."

Last year's event drew students, parents and members of the community, including the school's resource officer. Participants walked together to the school and shared breakfast afterward.

"We had a great turnout," Query said. "Some parents came, the SRO. We talked the whole way to school, then we had breakfast, it was a great start to our day."

For Query, one of the most important benefits is the opportunity for students and adults to simply spend time together.

"Honestly, connection to adults," Query said when asked what students gain from the experience. "In the world today and even in school, we're busy learning. We want to make as many connections as we can, but there are things that have to get done."

The walk provides a chance for conversations that might not happen during a typical school day.

"In the morning, we just talked the whole way there," Query said. "I think sometimes just getting to talk about simple things that you don't have the time for was probably what I think the kids enjoyed."

The event also gives schools an opportunity to demonstrate routes students can use when walking or biking to school.

Query said Eugene Ware has students who live close enough to walk, although railroad tracks and some busier roads can make walking more difficult for others.

"We have a lot of kids that live pretty close to Eugene Ware," Query said. "Some roads are a little busy, but where we decided to make the path was less busy and had sidewalks all the way there, so it's a nice route to show them."

Safety is a major part of the walk. As students make their way to school, Query said adults use the opportunity to reinforce basic pedestrian safety habits.

"We talked about some personal things, but especially when we were stopping at roads, we talked about, 'Hey, let's stop, look both ways, stay on the sidewalk,'" Query said. "Especially buses in the morning, we talked about how they are closer in the school area and you need to make sure you are paying attention," Query said. "There's a lot going on, and sometimes the adults driving cars can't pay attention, so you have to be alert."

Parents are also welcome to participate. Query said some parents choose to park their vehicles and join the group for the walk to school.

"If anyone is in Fort Scott, please join us," Query said. "We enjoy having you there."

National Pedestrian Safety Month

Walk and Roll to School Day comes during National Pedestrian Safety Month in October, a time dedicated to increasing awareness of pedestrian safety.

Pedestrians of all ages can be vulnerable on roadways. KDOT encourages drivers, pedestrians and all roadway users to remain alert and follow traffic laws.

Pedestrians should stay focused, make eye contact with drivers, cross streets at marked crosswalks and use sidewalks when available.

Drivers are encouraged to slow down, watch for pedestrians, yield to pedestrians in or near crosswalks and never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. Drivers should also use extra caution when backing up or driving in conditions with limited visibility.

Everyone using the road should follow traffic laws and obey signs and signals.

Schools that have not yet registered can sign up for Walk and Roll to School Day and access free materials through KDOT's Safe Routes to School program. Materials include flyers, banners, signs and pedestrian safety fact sheets.

Participating Kansas schools

The 30 schools currently registered for the Oct. 7 event are:

USD 348 — Baldwin Elementary School Primary Center, Baldwin City

USD 204 — Bonner Springs Elementary School, Bonner Springs

USD 445 — Community Elementary School, Coffeyville

USD 333 — Concordia Elementary School, Concordia

USD 253 — Walnut Elementary School, Emporia

USD 234 — Eugene Ware Elementary School, Fort Scott

USD 457 — Charles Stones Intermediate Center, Garden City

USD 457 — Jennie Wilson Elementary School, Garden City

USD 457 — Victor Ornelas Elementary School, Garden City

USD 292 — Wheatland Elementary School, Grainfield

USD 210 — Hugoton Elementary School, Hugoton

USD 500 — Frank Rushton Elementary School, Kansas City

USD 500 — T.A. Edison Elementary School, Kansas City

USD 497 — Sunflower Elementary School, Lawrence

USD 453 — Henry Leavenworth Elementary School, Leavenworth

USD 453 — David Brewer Elementary School, Leavenworth

USD 453 — Anthony Elementary School, Leavenworth

USD 453 — Earl Lawson Early Education Center, Leavenworth

USD 453 — Richard Warren Middle School, Leavenworth

USD 453 — Leavenworth High School, Leavenworth

USD 453 — Third Avenue/Quest 1821, Leavenworth

USD 512 — Rosehill Elementary School, Lenexa

USD 480 — Cottonwood Elementary School, Liberal

USD 383 — Oliver Brown Elementary School, Manhattan

USD 408 — Marion Elementary School, Marion

USD 373 — South Breeze Elementary School, Newton

USD 512 — John Diemer Elementary School, Overland Park

USD 321 — Rossville Elementary School, Rossville

USD 321 — St. Marys Grade School, St. Marys

USD 323 — Westmoreland Elementary School, Westmoreland

KDOT's Safe Routes to School program works to encourage more children to walk, bike and roll to school safely while supporting communities in creating safer routes.

More information and free Walk and Roll to School Day materials are available through KDOT's Safe Routes to School program.