Children and teachers from the Saints Peter & Paul School on Dover Street resumed their Walking School Bus program in May, 2008, to give children the opportunity to walk to school in a safe and enjoyable way. Teacher Jenn Souza again lead a group of children from the school to the Rite Aide parking lot on Plymouth Avenue where they met other students who were dropped of by their parents. Every student who participated was awarded with a small plastic "foot" that they can keep on a key chain. The Walking School Bus concept is part of the national Safe Routes to School  program, which began in the 1970s in Odense, Denmark, over concern for the safety of school children walking and bicycling to school.
The concept spread internationally, with programs now in other parts of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. Click here to see photos of the walking program at the Doran School and here to see photos of the Green School walking program. For more information about Sts. Peter & Paul's program, contact school principal Kathy Burt at 508-672-7258.
 

(Top row, left and center) Crossing guard Lenny greets the children as they leave the school with school secretary Colleen Laliberte and head down Warren Street to the Rite Aide parking lot on Plymouth Avenue. (Top row, right) Parent Mrs. Baptista gets some assistance from teacher Jenn Souza in putting the "feet" on the key chains. (Middle row, left) 1st  grade student Emily B. is dropped off by her mother to join the group on their walk back to the school (Middle row, center and right) A third-grade student wears her feet on her wrist and displays them to her sisters Anne-Marie and Elizabeth. (Bottom row, left) Students Aliana and Celina wait to receive their feet. (Bottom row, center and right) Students Kylee, Madysen and Zachuary walk hand-in-hand back to the school before classes begin.