A Wet Walk, Wheel to School Day

Rain greeted Manhattan Beach residents this morning, casting a damper on International Walk to School Day. Still, in spite of the rain, many school kids and their parents walked on through the drizzles and showers to get to school.

Schools in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District participate throughout the school year in the district's Walk or Wheel to School Wednesdays program and many do so every weekday that they can.

Crossing guard Evelyn Smiley told Manhattan Beach Patch that she'd seen many of her "regulars" going by in cars on their way to school instead of walking as they would typically do. 

Said Pennekamp Elementary Principal Debbie Mabry, "The rain definitely had a slight impact on our participation, however, we did have hundreds of students/parents endure the rain and walk. We encourage all students to walk/wheel every single day but the International Walk to School Day made the walk extra special."

Mabry thanked the school's "Dragon community for starting their day in a healthy way!"

Programs such as the district's and the international day contribute to cleaner air and healthier children, according to the Walk to School organization's Web site, and increase awareness of the need for safe streets for children to walk on.

October is International Walk to School Month and the organization's Web site has resources, event ideas and learning materials that can be downloaded.

For some rainy day fun, check out the video [accompanying this story] of the "Ped Safety Dance," complete with its own lyrics, done to Men Without Hats' "Safety Dance."