Schools

Westfield Walks to School

Annual walk to school day includes walking celebrities.

Children across Westfield were encouraged to walk to school Wednesday morning as the annual Walk to School Day brought in local celebrities to walk with raffle contest winners.

The annual day was started by Brakes, the pedestrian safety advocacy group, as a way to promote walking to the six elementary schools. Students in each of the schools had the chance to win a raffle to be escorted to school by a local celebrity. Each of the elementary school principals, Mayor Andy Skibitsky, Police Chief John Parizeau, Fire Chief Dan Kelly and a team of police officers and firefighters.

Skibitsky picked up his young charge, Theresa DiFalco, a second grade student at Jefferson Elementary School early this morning for the 15 minute walk. Joined by DiFalco's mother, Maureen, and younger sister, Allie, the group walked along several side streets on the south side chatting about Theresa's career ambitions and time at Jefferson. Along the way they picked up more Jefferson students and parents forming an impromptu Walking School Bus along the way.

Find out what's happening in Westfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Today is to get the word out about the benefits of walking to school and the Walking School Bus project," Skibitsky said,.

DiFalco walks to school on a regular basis, saying she enjoys the ability to get out side and have fun with her friends on the walk. DiFalco and her sister were given official town pins by the mayor.

Find out what's happening in Westfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

DiFalco, who wants to be a photographer when she grows up, said she was surprised to hear she won the raffle's grand prize, a trip to school with the mayor. She had previously met Skibitsky last year when she joined him at a Jefferson ceremony.

"I was surprised because of the fact that there are six elementary schools," DeFalco said.

Along the way, DiFalco and Skibitsky met up with her friends, Abhijay Butta and Laura Masciola, also second grade students at Jefferson. Masciola walks to school daily and her mother said it allows her daughter a good chance to excercise and burn off energy before getting to school. Butta also walks to school daily, saying he prefers it because of the environmental benefits of not driving.

Butta had the chance to chat with Skibitsky, getting career advice. Butta is not after the mayor's chair one day, he's set his sites a bit higher, aiming to one day follow President Barack Obama.

"First I'll be a lawyer, then up to president," Butta said. "I want to be president so I can tell the people that bad people cannot come into America and make speeches to make America a better place."

Arriving at Jefferson, Skibitsky's group joined other students from around the south side who walked to school. All students who had walked were invited to sign banners which will be hanging in the school. The students, and Skibitsky were also given stickers saying they had walked to school.

DiFalco said she enjoyed the chance to walk to school this morning with the mayor and help encourage other students around Westfield to walk to school daily.

"I get the fresh air," she said.

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here