TODAY - Leggett, Starr and Local Officials to Celebrate International Walk To School Day with Rolling Terrace Elementary School

Media Contact: Lucille Baur, 240-876-5530 or Lucille.Baur@montgomerycountymd.gov

Leggett, Starr and Local Officials to Celebrate International Walk To School Day with Rolling Terrace Elementary School

Today, October 8, 2014

PRESS CONFERENCE AT LONG BRANCH-GARLAND PARK BEGINS 8:30 a.m. WALK FROM PARK TO SCHOOL BEGINS 9 a.m.

Long Branch-Garland Park playground - 8601 Garland Avenue, Takoma Park

Rolling Terrace Elementary School - 705 Bayfield Street, Takoma Park

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and Montgomery County School Superintendent Dr. Joshua Starr will celebrate International Walk to School Day with other officials and the Rolling Terrace Elementary School community.

On Walk to School Day, Rolling Terrace Elementary School will introduce the “Frequent Walker/Roller Club” a new program to encourage students to walk or ride bicycles, scooters or skateboards to school. Even children who ride the bus to school can participate by walking/running during recess. Participating students will sign a pledge to increase their frequency of walking or rolling, and receive a punch card to enable them to enter raffles for prizes from pencils on up to a new bicycle.

Joining Leggett and Starr will be County Council member Cherri Branson, Board of Education member Philip Kaufman, Takoma Park Mayor Bruce Williams, Department of Transportation Director Art Holmes, Principal Jennifer Connors and other officials along with Rolling Terrace Elementary School students, patrols, staff and parents.

Following the walk, AAA Mid-Atlantic will sponsor assemblies for first graders featuring the robot Otto the Auto, who will teach children safe walking tips. Walk to School Day events focus on the need for safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and building connections between families, schools and the broader community.

Sponsors of this year’s event at Rolling Terrace Elementary School include Safe Kids Montgomery County, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Foundation for Safety and Education, Federal Express, Montgomery County Department of Transportation (Safe Routes to School), City of Takoma Park Safe Routes to School, Montgomery County Police, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, Maryland Safe Routes Network, the Maryland State Highway Administration and Safe Routes to School National Partnership.

Note to Editors: The event will also feature public safety equipment such as fire engines and two horse-mounted units from the Maryland National Capital Park Police-Montgomery County Division.

Parking: will be available next to the Garland Park playground and on-street near the school.