More than 45 area schools will join students across the globe for International Walk to School Day

MARC NEWS RELEASE
October 6, 2009

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CONTACTS:
Aaron Bartlett, Bicycle/Pedestrian Planner, abartlett@marc.org; 816/701-8238

Jody Ladd Craig, Public Affairs Director, jcraig@marc.org, 816/701-8241

More than 45 area schools will join students across the globe for International Walk to School Day

Each year, the Mid-America Regional Council encourages local schools to celebrate International Walk to School Day(IWALK), which this year falls on Wednesday, October 7, 2009. The event has steadily grown in the Kansas City area, with more than 45 schools and 13,000 participants on both sides of the state line walking in 2009.

Students, educators, families and neighbors throughout the Greater Kansas City area will join others around the world in promoting the benefits of walking or biking to school, including healthy lifestyles, strong communities and a cleaner environment.

Now in its 13^th year, IWALK continues to grow, as many cities and countries recognize the need for programs that educate children, parents and educators about safely traveling to school in ways that will benefit their health and the environment. Communities can use IWALK events as a first step in creating safe, inviting environments for young and old alike.

Highlights of IWALK events in the Kansas City region:

Bridging The Gap staff will walk with children and parents from M.E. Pearson Elementary School in Kansas City, Kan. The walk will kick off at Waterway Park and celebrates the upcoming sidewalk improvements this spring and the new bike rack that will be presented to the school October 17 as part of the Bike Clinic. Contact Steve Petrehn, Bridging The Gap, 816/561-1061, for more information.
Wheatley and Whittier Elementary schools in the Kansas City, Mo. School District will celebrate by giving their “Walking School Bus” routes a test. The program is sponsored by KC Healthy Kids and thePedNet Coalition. Community partner LINC (Local Investment Commission) is helping Deb Baumgardner of KC Healthy Kids coordinate the project at the school sites:

Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School, Walk at 9:30 a.m. Starting point to be determined. School address: 2415 Agnes, Kansas City, MO 64127 – Principal Teresa May
Whittier Elementary School, Walk at 8: 20 a.m. from 10^th St. and Norton. School Address: 1012 Bales, Kansas City, MO 64052 – Principal Alice Osborn

Wendell Phillips Elementary School, (Hope Huff, 816-418-3756) will have an all-school walk, then meet in the school cafeteria for breakfast for the walkers.
Christ The King Parish School (Jennifer Scanlon-Smith, 816-363-1113) encourages students and parents to walk to school on the day of the big event. Participants will meet at a local park and parade to school.
At Lee's Summit Elementary School (Sabrina Powell, 816-986-3400), children will walk with their families and the school will serve refreshments and have safety information available.

Other participating schools:

SANTA FE TRAIL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	DEE CHAFFN, RN	913-993-5000	OVERLAND PARK, KAN
ACADEMIE LAFAYETTE SCHOOL	RACHEL GORDON	816-361- 7735	KANSAS CITY, MO
BELINDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	LEANN CARVER-JONES	913-993-1866	PRAIRIE VILLAGE
BRIARCLIFF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	MEG MCFARLAND	816-413-4950	KANSAS CITY, MO
RUSHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	CHRIS BAKER	913-993-4900	MISSION
CHAPEL LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	SHANA RYAN	816-478-3131	LEE’S SUMMIT, MO
HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KARI NAPIER	913-993-3300	PRAIRIE VILLAGE
BRIARWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	MICKEY GREENE	913-993-2266	PRAIRIE VILLAGE
APACHE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	SUE STINSON	913-993-1666	OVERLAND PARK
FRANK RUSHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	STEVE PETREHN	913-707-7719	KANSAS CITY, KAN
TONGANOXIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KATHARINA	913-232-6065	TONGANOXIE
BROADMOOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KATHARINA	913-232-6065	LOUISBURG
ROCKVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KATHARINA	913-232-6065	LOUISBURG
BANNEKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KATHARINA	913-232-6065	KANSAS CITY
M.E. PEARSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KATHARINA	913-232-6065	KANSAS CITY
QUINDARO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KATHARINA	913-232-6065	KANSAS CITY
LIBERTY VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	BEN BOND	913-239-7748	OLATHE
BENNINGHOVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	CINDY IREY	913-993-1902	SHAWNEE
BROOKRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KIRSTEN LARSEN	913-381-2507	OVERLAND PARK
OAK HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	DENISE ANDREWS	913-239-6982	OVERLAND PARK
TOMAHAWK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	WENDY MADARASZ	913-993-5500	OVERLAND PARK
ARBOR CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	CARISA MCMULLEN	913-780-6707	OLATHE
BROOKRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KATIE SCHATTE	913-993-2400	SHAWNEE MISSION
QUAIL RUN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	RODNEY HESS	785-832-5820	LAWRENCE
BENTWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	SHERRY CRAWFORD	913-897-8830	OVERLAND PARK
HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KATIE SCHATTE	913-993-3300	SHAWNEE MISSION
OAK PARK-CARPENTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KATIE SCHATTE	913-993-4100	OVERLAND PARK
SANTA FE TRAIL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KATIE SCHATTE	913-993-5000	SHAWNEE MISSION
ST. AGNES SCHOOL	KATIE SCHATTE	913-262-1686	ROELAND PARK
TRAILWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KATIE SCHATTE	913-993-5600	SHAWNEE MISSION
BELINDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KATIE SCHATTE	913-993-1800	SHAWNEE MISSION
CORINTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KATIE SCHATTE	913-993-2900	PRAIRIE VILLAGE
PRAIRIE RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PRE PTA	prepta@yahoo.com	SHAWNEE
ROSELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL		913-789-3480	ROELAND PARK
CLEAR CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL		913-422-8700	SHAWNEE
CEDAR CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	STACEY KELTER	913-780-7360	OLATHE

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