Furry Friends Join Lee Elementary School's 'Walking Bus'
Children pet one of the pups who participated in the walk. Started in 2019, the Walking School Bus invites an organization to walk with it each month.
They began at the town park, walked down Main Street, and then up the hill to Greylock Street led by several canine pals.
"It's a big community effort every month," physical education teacher Jennifer Carlino said. "It's great for all-around, for the kids for the community, we love it."
Berkshire Humane Society joined the procession with two alumni pups, Justus and Sophie, who found a forever home with Catherine Hibbard, the society's marketing communications manager. Another BHS alum, named Cooper, joined the walk, as he was adopted by Lee Elementary staff member Ashley Hickson.
Following the walk, the school's student council took a field trip to the Pittsfield shelter to deliver items and monetary donations the children had collected.
Berkshire Comfort Dogs, which will have donated about 30 poodles to county schools come Sept. 1, also joined the walking bus with pups Ellie, Molly and Maui.
Each month, the school picks a theme and invites a group or person to join the kids on a walk. Started in 2019, the Safe Routes to School initiative is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. The following year it received an Exemplary Program Award from the state Department of Transportation.
There are environmental, health, and social benefits to the Walking School Bus. The goal is to engage students in active transportation and community building in an effective and fun way.
iBerkshires was given a look at Lee Elementary's "pet walls" in one of its entranceways that displays students' pet friends. Made in preparation for the walk, the school revealed that a Berkshire Humane Society donation was provided for almost every pet display.
The first Walking School Bus occurred in fall 2019 to commemorate National Walk to School day. About 125 students attended along with Lee Police, MassDOT, and School Committee members.
Carlino explained that the student council is asked every month if it has a partnership in mind for the monthly event. Students have walked with Lee Bank, the Kiwanis Club, the school community, and Dresser Hull.
The Kiwanis Club walk helped the organization stuff its trailer with food for the Lee food pantry and the Dresser Hull walk raised money for the Laliberte Toy Fund.
The walks are assisted by the town's first responders, with the Lee Police providing crosswalk assistance and trailing close behind, occasionally speaking to the students from the cruiser radio.
It was clear that both children and adults were having a good time.
Tags: Berkshire Humane Society, safe routes to school,
