Mount Penn Elementary Center is gearing up for a spectacular kick off for their Safe Routes to School Program this year. With a grant from PANA, Mount Penn is able to spend $2,500.00 this year and another $2,500.00 next year educating, encouraging, and evaluating their Walk to School Program.

On October 8, 2008, Mount Penn students, teachers, and families will meet up with WalkBikeBerks at Redner's Market Warehouse on Carsonia Avenue to walk to school with some very special guests.

Congressman Jim Gerlach

Christian Y. Leinbach, Commissioner

Representative Danti Santoni

Mayor Joshua Nowotarski

Eric B. White, Consumer Communications Specialist, Redner's Markets, Inc.

Kerry C. Hoffman, Principal

Michele Bleacher, Assistant Principal

WalkBikeBerks Executive Board Members

The Exceptional Teaching Staff of the Mount Penn Elementary School

But why walk to school?

To enhance the health of kids Increased physical activity can combat a host of health problems facing kids today.
To improve air quality and the environment Replacing car trips to school with walking or bicycling can help reduce air pollution.
To create safer routes for walking and bicycling Sidewalks, education programs and traffic calming measures are some of the ways to improve conditions.

We are organizing a Walking School Bus...where adults lead children on a planned route -- a route the has been walked and mapped for it's safety, timed for its distance, and evaluated by our cooperating law enforcement officer. Children will meet us at designated "bus stops" and we'll all walk together towards school ... and away from:

Obesity

Related Health Problems such as Asthma and Type II Diabetes

Traffic Congestion

Emissions and Air Pollution

High gasoline costs

To learn more about Walk To School Day and how you can host your own event, visit http://www.walktoschool-usa.org/why/index.cfm.