Smithfield Schools Set For Walk To School Day

Gallagher Middle School and Anna McCabe School are among 29 Rhode Island schools celebrating International Walk to School Day this morning.

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.

Since its founding in 1997, the event has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school and a celebration each October. Today, thousands of schools across America – from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico – participate every year.

"We're hoping it doesn't rain," said Laurie Beavias, principal of Gallagher Middle School. She said there will be about 100 middle schoolers participating this morning.

Middle School students will either walk to or get dropped off at three spots in town: The Smithfield Police Station, Greenville Library and Deerfield Park. From there, students, teachers and parents will walk to the Middle School and elementary school.

This will be the second year the schools have participated in the event, which comes with a grant they're hoping can be used to help pay for new bike racks at both schools, Beavias said.

"They've always been very well participated," said Cathy Pleau, principal at Anna McCabe School. McCabe students will get dropped off at the Smithfield Ice Rink this morning, she said, and walk with teachers and parents to the school. She's hoping it won't rain, too.

The principals and their charges may have to prepare for precipitation if the weather guys are on the ball.