Photo Gallery: West School Takes Part in International Walk to School Day

Almost half of the students at the in Stoughton walked to school Wednesday morning, taking part in .

“I think it was an amazing turnout,” West School principal Brendan Dearborn said of the approximately 170 children who hit the pavement and walked to school.

The students were joined by dozens of parents, teachers, and community members, who also took part in the event.

Some students walked with their parents or in a small group from their own homes, but the bulk of the participants were part of a “walking school bus.” There were three walking school buses, one that departed from the , one from the and one from the . 

Each “bus” held up multiple signs that read “International Walk to School Day” as the students approached the school.

When the “walking school buses” arrived, a parade of kids climbed up the stairs of the West, greeted by Dearborn and other faculty. The students received a small door prize (a pencil and sticker) for taking part in the event.

Dearborn thanked staff from the Stoughton Youth Commission, the YMCA and Pat Small, the director of nursing for the Stoughton Public Schools, for assisting with the event.

He said he hopes this is something that the school can do it more often.

“It’s a great way to start the day,” Dearborn said. “[The event] promotes exercise, good health and staying active.”

***