(above) Parents and students walking to Linden’s School No. 4 on Walk to School Day in October 2019.
Linden Schools Honored by NJ Safe Routes to School Program
Submitted by Gary Miller
Five of Linden’s elementary schools have been recognized recently by the New Jersey Safe Routes to School program for encouraging students to walk or bike to school.
New Jersey Safe Routes to School, which is created and supported by the New Jersey Department of Transportation with funding from the Federal Highway Administration, enables and encourages safer and more accessible walking and bicycling environments for children in New Jersey through education, training, and research.
Safe Routes to School projects can involve physical improvements to the environment, as well as encouragement programs to promote more walking and bicycling to and from school.
School No. 4 reached the highest honor by gaining Gold-level recognition. To achieve the honor, the school organized a pedestrian safety assembly for the students and organized a “Walk to School Day” in October, with over 100 families participating. Students were also given the opportunity to participate in a poster contest, highlighting pedestrian safety guidelines. And members of the student technology Vanguard created a digital bulletin board to share tips and procedures to walk to school safely.
“We are honored to participate in this statewide initiative, and to be honored with Gold SRTS status,” said School No. 4 Principal Suzanne Olivero. “Walking to school allows our students to get their daily exercise and arrive to school safely, refreshed, and ready to have a productive day.”
School No. 8 reached Bronze recognition, and Schools No. 5, 6 and 9 were recognized as First Step honorees.
Photos by Linden Public Schools
(above) Parents and students walking to Linden’s School No. 9 on Walk to School Day in October 2019.
