Valley View celebrates 20th International Walk to School Day

October 6, 2016

An enthusiastic group of Valley View students and accompanying adults gather to await the start of the 20th annual Valley View International Walk to School Day early Wednesday morning.

Valley View Elementary students joined with students around the world in celebrating the 20th year of International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 5. The Valley View students and their parents, guardians, relatives and friends met at the City Parking Lot in downtown Bonners Ferry at 7 a.m. There was a little chill to the air, and an occasional raindrop noted here and there, but all seemed invigorated by the refreshing cool morning. There was excitement in the air as everyone waited to begin the walk to school. Valley View students, guests and chaperones head up Bonners Ferry's South Hill. Physical Education teacher Paula Petesch called the group of students and their accompanying adults to order, explained the route and recommendations for safe walking and introduced special guests. Those guests were John Beck, retired physical education teacher at Valley View, who has participated in around 15 Walk to School Days over the years, Gary Pflueger, Superintendent of Boundary County Schools, and David Sims, Mayor of Bonners Ferry. All participated in the walk with the students. From the City Parking Lot, the group of approximately 35 students, with almost as many adults, headed up the South Hill, with officers from the Bonners Ferry Police Department providing traffic control and monitoring safety. Upon reaching the top of the South Hill, the group left Highway 95 and cut through quieter neighborhood streets, taking around half an hour to cover the distance of approximately 2.5 miles. On arriving for their day at school, the kids seemed to be just about as enthusiastic as they were to begin the walk. Walk to School Day began in 1997 as an event to encourage "walkable communities." The event has grown over the years, and is now celebrated every October by thousands of schools across the United States, along with schools from over 40 countries around the world. There is also a Bike to School Day, which began in 2012.