Students attending Lucas Elementary School – better known as Lucas Dual Language Academy – in Ceres were encouraged to ditch the family vehicle and opt to become pedestrians or bicyclists on Wednesday, to observe International Walk to School Day.
Joining the walk which started at 8 a.m. were state Assemblyman Juan Alanis and his wife and Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez. Also joining in the walk were numerous Ceres Police and California Highway Patrol officers.
The national event began in October 1997 and has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school. Thousands of schools across America participate every October but Ceres is the only school that is registered to partake in the event. One goal of the event is to excite students about walking or bicycling to school to increase regular physical activity and decrease the risk of obesity and chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and stroke. Another benefit is reduced fuel consumption.
Lucas School started the tradition in 2018 when Brandy Nowaya, then president of the Lucas Parent Teacher Club (PTC), organized the walk from Roeding Heights Park to the campus a few blocks away.
Walking to school might be a little difficult for some at Lucas given that the academy doesn’t have a typical attendance boundary and draws students from all over Ceres.
“Walk & Roll to School Day is an opportunity to speak to many different needs of communities across America,” said Nancy Pullen-Seufert, director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School. “For communities that need safety improvements for walking and rolling near schools, this is an opportunity to highlight those needs. For communities looking to change mindsets about how we travel, the one-day event serves as a jumping-off point. Be it a quick-build project or first of its kind collaboration between new community partners, schools, community leaders and families across the country are working together to make active travel to school a safe, convenient transportation option for all.”
