BLUE SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT
“Walk to School Day” Event
Plan it, talk it, then walk it!
Not that long ago, it wasn’t uncommon for kids to walk to and from school. There was a sense of adventure to the
experience as the slower pace made it easier to observe things usually missed while hurriedly zipping by in a car.
Furthermore, as a walker, it was possible to immerse yourself in the sounds of the neighborhood, visit with and enjoy the
company of friends and neighbors, and become more in tune with the local community.
In an attempt to reconnect with a more relaxed time, allow students and their parents to enjoy each other’s company
without the usual distractions on the way to school, foster a lifelong appreciation for walking, develop walking safety skills,
promote healthy lifestyles, minimize traffic congestion and pollution, bring people together for a common purpose, and just
have fun, the Blue School District’s elementary schools are inviting K-5 students and their families to participate in the first
annual “Walk to School Day” on Wednesday, October 7.
The Walk to School Day initiative is being conducted as a joint venture between the Blue Springs School District; the Blue
Springs PTA; WatchDOGS; the city governments and law enforcement agencies of Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, and
Independence; Stand-Up Blue Springs; and the national “Let’s Move” project. This partnership is committed to helping
children and adults become more physically active and form healthy habits that last a lifetime.
Ways to Participate in Walk to School Day
The Walk to School Day event will be structured in three basic ways as follows (i.e., some schools may customize the process
and/or have slight variations in their plan):
1. Walk from home
The essence of the event is for students and families who live close enough and on safe routes will walk to school. If
preferred, they can join other families and form groups in their neighborhoods to travel to school together. Crossing arteries
will be supervised by volunteers (e.g., PTA, WatchDOGS members) as identified within each school’s respective plan.
2. Designated starting points
Multiple locations will be identified and communicated by school personnel to families, who live far away, are on hazardous
routes, have bus riders, or have children with disabilities, can park at a safer, closer point and make their way to school when
they’re ready. This is a great way for participants to walk, stride, and/or parade to school together!
3. Walk at school (i.e., an easy way to involve every student)
Students who live too far to walk, have limited or unsafe routes for walking, ride the bus, or have disabilities that affect
mobility can participate by walking during recess or a special class or school activity. Before-school students who are
dropped off early in the morning can walk during the a.m. program period.
A Note about Safety/Security
To address potential concerns and/or minimize risks related to safety or security during the Walk to School event, adult
volunteers, including PTA parents and WatchDogs members, will be recruited to provide crossing guard assistance at
previously identified points along the various routes. In addition, the district’s Department of Public Safety will be working
with local law enforcement agencies to provide heightened visibility and/or direct assistance at key roadway crossing points.
It’s also anticipated that parents will choose to accompany their student while participating in this one-day event and/or start
a “walking school bus” as a way to have an adult presence on the street. A walking school bus is a group of children who walk
a designated route to school under adult supervision, picking up kids along the way just like a bus. For some neighborhoods,
the process may be casual. Others may develop a formal plan with adults scheduled to join at certain points along the route.
In order to ensure a walker-friendly environment, pets, bicycles, and skateboards, etc., should be left at home.
Need Additional Information
For more information, please contact your school principal.
Sincerely,
The BSSD Walk to School Day Project Team
BLUE SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT
“Walk to School Day” Event – October 8, 2014
Plan it, talk it, then walk it!
September 23, 2015
Dear SPE Parent/Guardian:
Not that long ago, it wasn’t uncommon for kids to walk to and from school. There was a sense of adventure to the
experience as the slower pace made it easier to observe things usually missed while hurriedly zipping by in a car or bus.
Furthermore, as a walker, it was possible to immerse yourself in the sounds of the neighborhood, visit with and enjoy the
company of friends and neighbors, and become more in tune with the local community.
To reconnect with a more relaxed time, allow students and their parents to enjoy each other’s company without the usual
distractions on the way to school, foster a lifelong appreciation for walking, develop walking safety skills, promote physical
activity and healthy lifestyles, minimize traffic congestion and pollution, bring people together for a common purpose, and
just have fun, the Blue School District’s elementary schools are inviting K-5 students and their families to participate in the
first annual “Walk to School Day” on Wednesday, October 7. This event is being conducted as a collaborative venture
between the Blue Springs School District; the Blue Springs PTA; the city governments and law enforcement agencies of Blue
Springs, Lee’s Summit, and Independence; Stand-Up Blue Springs; and the national “Let’s Move” initiative.
Ways to Participate in Walk to School Day
The Walk to School Day event on Wednesday, October 7, will be structured in three basic ways as follows:
1. Walk from home – Students and families who live close enough and on safe routes will walk to school. If preferred, other
families in the neighborhood can be joined to form groups to travel to school together. Crossing arteries will be supervised
by school and community volunteers (e.g., PTA). Please see the back of this letter for specifics related to how our school will
be managing this process (see back).
2. Begin walking at a designated starting point – Families who live far away, on hazardous routes, have bus riders, or have
children with disabilities, can park at a safer, closer point and make their way to school. In some cases, schools will arrange
to have buses unloaded within close proximity so that riders can walk together under staff supervision. Whatever the
strategy, this is a great way to walk, stride, and/or parade to school together! Please see the back of this letter for specifics
related to how our school will be managing this process (see back).
3. Walk at school – Students who live too far to walk, have limited or unsafe routes for walking, ride the bus, or have
disabilities that affect mobility will participate by walking during recess or free time. In addition, A.M. Prime Time students
will walk during the before school program period. In this way, all students can be involved!
A Note about Safety/Security
To address potential concerns and/or minimize risks related to safety or security during the Walk to School event, adult
volunteers (e.g., PTA parents) have been recruited to provide crossing guard assistance at key points along the various routes.
The district’s Department of Public Safety will be working with local law enforcement agencies to assure heightened visibility
and/or direct assistance at key roadway crossing points. Parents should accompany their student while participating in this
one-day activity and/or start a “walking school bus” (i.e., a group of children who walk a designated route to school under
adult supervision, picking up kids along the way just like a bus ) as a way to have a strong adult presence. In order to ensure a
walker-friendly environment, pets, bicycles, and skateboards, etc., should be left at home.
Need Additional Information
For more information, please contact the school office at 816-224-7800. Your time and attention regarding the Walk to
School Day event to be held on Wednesday, October 8, are greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Nick Goos
Sunny Pointe Elementary
Walk to School Day Logistics Plan
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We have two designated crosswalks to Sunny Pointe; 1) at the entrance to the Sunny Pointe subdivision,
2) in front of the south drive at Paul Kinder Middle School
Blue Springs Department of Public Safety Officers, Independence Police Officers, and Sunny Pointe School
Officials will be at the above mentioned crosswalks
Crosswalks will be supervised starting at 8:40
PTA will have volunteers to help students and parents across the SPE and PKMS parking lot at designated
locations
Due to the safety concerns (amount of traffic) on the bridge over 1-70, we ask that students do not walk
over the bridge to school. Please take your normal mode of transportation to school.
At the beginning of the school day, all Sunny Pointe students and staff will walk one lap around the school
to recognize the importance of having an active lifestyle