Jack the Jackal Walks to School with Brookdale Students

Students at Brookdale Avenue Elementary School in Verona were joined by a surprise guest to accompany them on their walk to school this morning: New Jersey Jackals mascot, Jack the Jackal.

Brookdale Principal Rich Rampolla and Jack joined students at the corner of Brookdale and Sunset Avenue just before start of the school day. Jack's surprise visit brought a smile to everyone's face, as he enthusiastically gave hugs and high-fives to the delighted students.

"A number of students and families turned out this morning and were happily surprised to see Jack the Jackal. He made our walk to school a lot more fun," Rampolla said.

National Walk to School day is an annual national effort to promote the health benefits of walking to school, as well as the environmental benefits.

"We try to encourage everybody to stay healthy by walking, but also by making a difference in the environment by using our feet to get to school instead of our cars."

Rampolla said on a typical day, a very small number of students whose homes are near the school walk to Brookdale. Today, however, he said approximately 90 percent of students pounded the pavement.