About 200 children, parents and township officials paraded through Jamesburg as part of Walk Our Children to School Day.
By: Melissa Morgan
A quiet morning on Front Street came to an end Tuesday when a group of about 200 children, parents and township officials paraded through Jamesburg on its way to the John F. Kennedy School.
Jamesburg Police Chief David Lester led the pack to the elementary school as part a program called Walk Our Children to School Day, which promotes safety, exercise and a community environment.
Partnership for a Walkable America and Keep Middlesex Moving sponsored the local portion of the fifth annual event that involved more than 10,000 students from 11 cities in Middlesex County.
Shirley Bzdewka, principal of JFK school, said the school was eager to participate in the program for the third year because of the community and safety values that the program promotes. Ms. Bzdewka said that having Mayor Tony LaMantia, the police chief and several council members, as well as parents and children walk to school together provides a sense of community and support for the students at JFK.
"We are very pro-child in this community," she said. "The concept of a neighborhood school is almost nonexistent, and a program like this shows the true spirit of a neighborhood school."
Mayor LaMantia organized the program, which, he said, also promotes community unity.
"The program shows a good spirit," Mayor LaMantia said. "No matter what Jamesburg does, it does it communitywide."
Mayor LaMantia signaled the start of the walk from the Jamesburg Firehouse by stressing the safety of Jamesburg streets and asking the walkers to help keep the community clean by picking up any garbage on the way to school.
Since Jamesburg doesn’t providing busing, more than 450 children walk to school in Jamesburg each day and Mayor LaMantia stressed the importance of making sure the streets they travel on are safe. He said the township will add more crossing guards to street corners and work to continue to keep the sidewalks in good shape.
Whether or not their children walk to school on a regular basis, the parents of JFK students appreciated the town’s efforts to bring the community together on this special day.
"I believe in keeping up with rituals and traditions," said Lauren Greenspan, a mother of a second-grader. "This event is festive and family oriented."
Jeri Ann Metroke, who recently moved to Jamesburg, participated in the walk to school for the first time this year. Her son walks to his fifth-grade class each day, and she said his safety is important to her.
"This shows the town cares about its kids," she said. "I try to do whatever I can to show my support."
In order to set an example of safety, walkers stopped at every corner so they could cross the street properly, directed by the crossing guards.
"This was a chance for parents to remind kids about safety rules and for officials to model them," said Ms. Bzdewka.
While parents emphasized the benefits of safety, JFK students said that for them the walk provided both a fun event and social opportunity.
"I like it because you get to walk with your friends," said second-grader Tiffany Gandy.
Jenna Flack, a fifth-grade student, said that not only did the walk allow her more socializing time with her friends but she also enjoyed the opportunity to walk with a parent.
"It is fun walking with the parents because it seems like they are actually one of the students," said Jenna. "It feels like you are walking with one huge family."
Having parents involved was also important to fifth-grader Gina Anania.
"It lets the parents see that this is normally what we have to go through every day," she said.
Ms. Bzdewka said that because parents, children and community members are all supporters of the growing Walk Our Children to School Day program, she hopes to see it continue year after year.
"People have gotten away from traditional values, but this town is very committed," she said. "I’ve never seen a town so devoted to its children"

