International Walk to School Day 2014

Walk this way – to school today!

Wednesday is International Walk To School Day

More than 50 Orange County Public Schools Participating

One-day international event to encourage families, students and the community to get

out of their cars and get moving.

What:   Best Foot Forward will join with Orange County Public School children, the Walking School Bus, and elected officials on Wednesday, October 8, to raise awareness about pedestrian safety on International Walk to School Day.  More than 50 Orange County Public Schools will participate in this annual event to teach kids safe walking skills and remind drivers to yield to peds, especially the little peds.

Media visibility opportunities are available. Best Foot Forward for Pedestrian Safety volunteers will carry their signature “IYield4Peds” signs along with students carrying home-made signs at the schools listed below.  See photo below for reference.

(NOTE: Unless a specific place is noted, media should plan on visibility opportunities in crosswalks and sidewalks leading up to school entrances. Media is welcome to park in OCPS parking lots.)

School                                                                                                                       Walk Time  

Dommerich Elementary School                                                                         7:50 – 8: 30 a.m.

1900 Choctaw Trail, Maitland, Fla. 32751

• Activity: Maitland Mayor Howard Schieferdecker and the “Walk n Roll” organizers will be walking with students and parents from King’s Row, down Thistle Lane to Dommerich Elementary, passing by notable traffic calming medians that were added through a grant.  Media contact person: Amanda Day 407-716-8221

Maitland Middle School                                                                                      8:45 – 9 a.m.

Connected to Dommerich Elementary School

• Activity: Maitland Mayor Howard Schieferdecker and the “Walk n Roll” organizers will be walking with students and parents from Dyan Way up Thistle Lane, passing a bike shelter that was a gift from FDOT.  Media contact person: Amanda Day 407-716-8221

Spring Lake Elementary School                                                                       7:30 – 8:30 a.m.

115  ring Lake Circle, Ocoee, Fla. 34761

• Activity: Celebrating being back in their original school building, there will be a walking group meeting up at the corner of Wurst and Spring Lake Circle at 7:30 a.m. State Representative Bryan Nelson, candidate for County Commissioner, will be joining the children. Media contact person: Joan Carragher 508-415-335

Lake Silver Elementary School                                                                          8 – 8:45 a.m.

2401 N Rio Grande Ave, Orlando, Fla. 32804                                                 

• Activity: Orange County School Board member Nancy Robinson will join the walkers at Albert Park on Edgewater Drive at 8 a.m. near the gazebo across from Graffiti Junktion, and will walk from there.  Media contact: Jaeann Ashton, 407-739-2374

Lakemont Elementary School                                                                             8:15 – 8:45 a.m.

901 N Lakemont Ave, Winter Park, Fla. 32792

• Activity: The Walking School Bus operates at Lakemont and other schools noted below.  The Walking School Bus is an organized group that walks together on a regular basis.  Note: Orange County School Board Member Joie Cadle will join Lakemont walkers at Phelps Park and walk from there to school.

Audubon Elementary School                                                                                 8 – 8:45 a.m.

1750 Common Way Rd., Orlando, Fla. 32814

• Activity: The Walk n Roll Moms, led by Nicole Skidmore, will be walking with kids and greeting them as they arrive at school.

Sadler Elementary School                                                                                       7:45 – 8:30 a.m.

4000 W Oak Ridge Road, Orlando, Fla. 32809

• Activity: Florida Health Department Environmental Administrator and BWCF Board Member David Overfield will walk with students.  Meet up at 7:45 a.m. in front of Somerset Apartment Complex on Oak Ridge Road to walk together from there.

Washington Shores Elementary                                                                               7:30 – 8:15 a.m.

944 W Lake Mann Dr., Orlando Fla. 32806

• Activity: Safe Kids Coalition will be greeting the kids who walk and will have organized activities throughout the day.

Hungerford Elementary School                                                                             7:30 – 8 a.m.

230 S College Ave, Maitland, Fla. 32751

• Activity: School children and administration will meet at the basketball court adjacent to the school for safety activities, games and rally. Media Contact: Katy Magruder, 407-376-2923

Participating Orange County Public Schools:

Lake Whitney Elementary, Winegard Elementary, Lake Sybelia Elementary, Bonneville Elementary, Cypress Springs Elementary, Endeavor Elementary, Frangus Elementary, Tildenville Elementary, Hiawassee Elementary, Hunters Creek Elementary, Little River Elementary, Lockhart Elementary, Meadow Woods Elementary, Sand Lake Elementary, Windy Ridge Elementary, Aloma Elementary, Lakemont Elementary, Eagle’s Nest Elementary, Audubon Elementary, Washington Shores Elementary, Hungerford Elementary, Westbrooke Elementary, Whispering Oak Elementary, MetroWest Elementary, Zellwood Elementary, Clarcona Elementary, Blankner, Colonial High School, and many other schools throughout Orange County.

Walking School Bus

Walking School Bus is involved with the following OCPS schools year-round: Brookshire Elementary, Eagle’s Nest Elementary, Indian River Elementary, Lake Sybelia Elementary, Millenia Elementary, Stevenson Elementary, and Lakemont elementary. For more information: www.walkingschoolbus.org

About Best Foot Forward

Best Foot Forward for Pedestrian Safety is a coalition of civic leaders, public safety officials, engineers, educators, transportation planners, advocates and concerned citizens. Initiated by Bike/Walk Central Florida under the leadership of former Orange County Mayor Linda Chapin, spearheaded by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, the coalition includes Orange County Government, Orange County Public Schools, Orlando Health, Lynx, Winter Park Health Foundation, MetroPlan Orlando, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the City of Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Eatonville, Windermere, Winter Garden, and Apopka, as well as the police chiefs throughout Orange County led by Orlando Police Chief John Mina and Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings

The mission is to cut pedestrian injuries and deaths in half in five years, by improving pedestrian safety and encouraging walking as a safe, fun form of transportation and healthy activity. To learn more, go to www.iyield4peds.org .