San Mateo Students to Participate in International Walk to School Day

Five San Mateo elementary schools will participate in the worldwide Walk to School Day event on Wednesday in an effort to promote healthy activities and help the environment.

About 1,000 students at Baywood, Beresford, George Hall, Highlands, and Laurel will join students from all over the world to walk to school Wednesday, according to San Mateo-Foster City School District Assistant Superintendent Molly Barton.

Parents, teachers and community leaders will join the students in walking to school.

Throughout the United States, International Walk to School Day is expected to be celebrated at over 3,500 events at participating schools. Walkers from the U.S. will join children and adults in 40 countries around the world.

"Walk to School events work to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and building connections between families, schools and the broader community," the school district said in a statement.

Schools along with their Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) are organizing events at each site. For additional information, please contact Joanne Day, Baywood Principal at (650) 312-7511, Alicia Heneghan, Beresford Principal at (650) 312-7551, Pam Bartfield, George Hall Principal at (650) 312-7533, Maria Majka, Highlands Principal at (650) 312-7544, and Susan Glines, Laurel Principal at (650) 312-7555.