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Bronxville Students Walk To School To Celebrate Earth Day

BRONXVILLE, N.Y. --Bronxville Elementary School students and their families left the car keys at home and instead walked to school as part of the annual spring tradition, Walk to School for Earth Day, which took place last week. 

Bronxville Elementary School students and their families walked to school last week in honor of Earth Day.

Bronxville Elementary School students and their families walked to school last week in honor of Earth Day.

Photo Credit: Bronxville Union Free School District

Students, parents, guardians, siblings and dogs walked together on the sidewalks all week to get to school, where they were greeted by their principal, Tricia Murray, and members of the Student Council. 

The students received colorful stickers and were congratulated for being environmentally aware. 

“It’s a very tangible way to reduce our footprint,” Murray said. “It’s also a happier morning. Everyone is in a good mood, perhaps because they walked, and they’re excited to get their stickers. It’s nice to have that interaction with the students in the beginning of the day, and I think it sets a nice tone for the rest of the day.” 

Murray said she’s seen the difference in the amount of cars that arrive for pickup and drop-off during the week – from 100 cars and a long line along Midland Avenue down to about 20 cars that arrive in the morning. 

Karin Drakenberg Goodson, a mother of two boys in the elementary and middle school, started the idea in 2009 by sending an email to a few Bronxville parents. She wanted to remind them about Earth Day and encourage them to walk to school that day. Since then, her Walk to School for Earth Day initiative has grown to a whole week and garnered support from the entire community. 

Earlier in the week, Mayor Mary Marvin and Police Chief Christopher Satriale, who have been supportive since the beginning of the initiative, greeted students as they walked to school.

“Bronxville is a really walkable town,” Drakenberg Goodson said about the 1-square-mile village. “Although many students already walk or ride a bike to school, I hope to inspire more people to get into the habit of walking not just around Earth Day, but all year-round.”

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