About 60-80 Coatimundi students participated in the International Walk to School in the USA Tuesday in Rio Rico. Coatimundi is one of more than 3,300 schools registered for the event. “Three or four of our schools in the district (Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35) are taking part in the Walk To School,” Coatimundi Principal John Fanning said.

Coatimundi cross country and track coach and 6th grade teacher Toni Sadler and the ‘Walking School Bus’ lead students along the Rio Rico Pathway on their walk to school. Photo / Roger Conroy

The schools participated on separate days due to transportation concerns, Fanning said. “Today is our day, and we’re real excited. It’s a great way for the kids to get out and enjoy nature and a great way to show them that it’s OK to walk to school.”

Beneficial

There are many benefits to the program, Fanning said. “It’s beneficial in many ways �“ being outside on a beautiful morning like today and exercising. We have quite a few staff here today so it’s a good way for the staff to build rapport with the students.”

The group met at Rio Rico Community Center on Avenida Coatimundi and walked the Rio Rico Pathway, about one to one and a half miles, to school Fanning said.

It’s fun

The students seemed to enjoy the activity. “I think it’s fun to be with my friends right here,” 8th grader Joel Bonnet, 13, said. “I think it’s really good exercise too. I’ve never done this in my life. I never heard of this program. I think it’s exciting and fun to walk to school.”

Bonnett lives off Avenida Coatimundi, but hadn’t taken the opportunity to walk to school, he said. “I think it’s a really nice program. This should go on. It’s really fun.”

Parents dropped students off at the Community Center and a pickup was provided to carry student backpacks and other gear. Coatimundi cross-country and track coach and 6th grade teacher Toni Sadler and the ‘Walking School Bus’, carried by students, led students on the walk.

While Coatimundi has about 400 students enrolled, attendance has been down during the last week, Fanning said. “I heard Mountain View was down quite a bit. We weren’t hit quite as bad last week. We had in the 50s Monday, 40s on Tuesday, 30s on Wednesday and 20s on Thursday absent out of 400. Yesterday, I don’t have the numbers. One of my kids was sick at home, so I had to stay home.”