St. Michael's Participating in International Walk to School Day on Oct. 3

Twenty-nine Rhode Island schools have signed up across the state to celebrate International Walk to School Day on October 3, including St. Michael's Country Day School. School principals, classroom teachers, school nurses, and/or physical education instructors have all helped get their school involved in a promotion that highlights both academic performance and individual health.

The main event will be held at the Kevin Coleman Elementary School in Woonsocket, where Coleman Principal Lisa Jacques, Miss Rhode Island Kelsey Fournier, RI Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School director Steve Church, and state Walk to School Day coordinator Eugenia Marks will be speakers.

The speaking event will begin at 8:45 a.m.

Studies have shown that exercise reduces stress and improves test scores, as well as helping to curb obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Eighteen percent of Rhode Island seventh graders weigh-in in the obese category, and 33 percent of all Rhode Island students are considered overweight.

International Walk to School Day is the celebration of getting to class by foot or bicycle, sponsored locally by the Coalition for Transportation Choices and its member groups, Audubon Society of RI, AARP, and Sierra Club RI.

RI SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN 2012 INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY

Hampden Meadows School, Barrington

Colt Andrews School, Bristol

Guiteras School, Bristol

Rockwell Elementary School, Bristol

Blackrock School, Coventry

Edward S. Rhodes School, Cranston

Washington Oak School, Coventry

John J. McLaughlin Cumberland Hill School, Cumberland

Kent Heights Elementary, East Providence

Myron J. Francis Elementary School, East Prov

Aquidneck School, Middletown

Forest Avenue School, Middletown

Joseph H. Gaudet Middle School, Middletown

St. Michael's Country Day, Newport

Greystone Elementary School, North Prov

International Charter School, Providence

Mary E Fogarty School, Providence

Montessori Children's House, Providence

Paul Cuffee School, Providence

Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School, Providence

Vartan Gregorian Elementary School, Providence

Anna McCabe School, Smithfield

Gallagher Middle School, Smithfield

Old County Road School, Smithfield

Wakefield Elementary School, South Kingstown

Pocasset School, Tiverton

Tiverton Middle School, Tiverton

Hugh Cole Elementary, Warren

State Street Elementary, Westerly

Bernon Heights School, Woonsocket

Kevin K. Coleman Elementary School, Woonsocket

Leo A. Savoie School, Woonsocket

Viola Berard School, Woonsocket