Walk To School Day At Thurgood Marshall Elementary
Moor, Clayton & Sparrow walk raffle winners to school in promotion of good health
They may not have school school-aged children in the Asbury Park School District but on Friday morning some of the city’s most recognizable residents walked a few kids to school. They included Jan Sparrow, Words! bookstore owner, Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton, and Mayor John Moor.
The initiative is a part of the recently launched Mayor’s Wellness Committee, organized in collaboration with the school district, Alliance for a Healthier Asbury Park, Hackensack Meridian Health, and EZ Rides’ Safe Routes to School team.
Fifth grader Sarai Martinez and fourth grader Estefani Morales were chosen through a Thurgood Marshall Elementary School raffle.
Moor and Sparrow accompanied Estafani and her siblings to school, learning everything from the young student’s favorite things to do and subjects to hopes and aspirations.
“She was so full of energy,” Moor said. “She loves science and math and wants to attend Harvard University.”
Clayton and Safe Routes to School Coordinator Lisa Lee accompanied Sarai.
“We talked about school, her family, and what she is planning to do this weekend [a family barbeque],” Clayton said. “She’s a member of the school’s safety patrol and wants to be an engineer.”
The two raffle winners were given a backpack filled with wellness items, including a Fitbit step tracker watch, jump rope, Frisbee, workout shirts and tees from Councilman Jesse Kendle’s recent Kids Day event in Springwood Avenue Park, National Night out and Golf Outing. A water bottle, pens, police stickers, mini notepads and an art book were also included.
Safe Routes to School also gave them a Scholastic book about Clifford and Walking to School Safely, and distributed crayons from Hopscotch and Hackensack Meridian Health, multigrain Cheerios from the Alliance for a Healthier Asbury Park and a walk safely temporary tattoo from EZ Rides Safe Routes to School team.
“The walking and bike program is a way to increase our students’ fitness, which helps their overall health,” Dr. Kristie Howard, the district’s Director of Student Services, said in an EZ Ride video.
Programs teaching kids about bicycle safety and the safe ways to walk to school have been invaluable, Howard said.
“The parents have been very receptive,” Howard said. “Now they are actually coming out and walking with their students to school.”
[Photos courtesy of Lisa Lee]
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