Valley students participate in International Walk to School Day

Students from schools throughout the Coachella Valley participated in International Walk to School Day Wednesday. Groups gathered at various locations in to make the walk to their campuses. Katherine Finchy Elementary in Palm Springs was one school that participated. The event is held in order to promote awareness about road safety and an active lifestyle for students.

One student that participated was Bijan Nasr, a 4 th grader along with his mother Mercedeh. Bijan said he was happy to be outside.

“I’m just excited to walk to school today with everyone and my classmates in the school,” he said.

His mother said that she thought it was a great idea to get his son a little more exercise than usual and supported the event.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity,” Nasr said. “I grew up in London so I used to walk to school every day so when [Bijan] said it was International Walk to School Day, I was like great, I’ll come and do it with you.”

Another parent, Dawna Snyder said the event was a good refresher on certain hazards such as distracted driving, especially since she took her 5 th grade daughter to school every day.

“I think people are just in such a rush that they’re not paying attention unfortunately and that can obviously be hazardous…so it’s kind of scary,” she said.

Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon also attended the event as he walked with the schoolchildren from Katherine Finchy. He spoke with them and had an opportunity to be young again by showing off his yo-yo skills.

International Walk to School Day is also held in Canada and the United Kingdom and was agreed to be held by the two countries and the United States in 2000.