Students at the Viveiros Elementary School participated in their first StoryWalk experience set up around the school on November 20, 2012. The event invites children to read a book one page at a time by walking (or running, skipping, etc.) to the next page thereby promoting physical fitness and literacy skills together. StoryWalk is the brainchild of the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition who has trademarked the brand. The project was funded by VOICES for a Healthy Southcoast through a grant from the Greater New Bedford Allies for Health and Wellness. Additional copies of the book were donated to the participating classrooms by Partners for a Healthier Community. Planning for this project involved VOICES co-coach and YMCA Southcoast Vice-President of Operations Nancy Bonell and School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard. Click here for the video of the walk. Click here for the Herald News article. Click here for photos of a Story Walk held at the Doran Elementary School. For more information about school wellness, contact School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard at 774-319-0107. (Bottom center photo courtesy of Stephanie Kennedy)

(Top row, left) School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard talks to the newly-elected 5th grade class officers before they accompany a group of first-graders as they walk around the school reading the story. (Top row, center and right) Co-President Chelsea Rodrigues reads the first page of the story as Co-President Owen Duarte and Treasurer Casey Aguiar follow along with their copies of the book. (Middle row, left) Reading Coach Stephanie Kennedy and first grade teacher Colleen Donnelly listen as  Owen reads to the group. (Middle row, right) Secretary Makayla Cordiero and class representative Alexandria Novo talk as they lead the group to the next page. (Bottom row, left and right) Vice-President Nicholas Rebello reads to the first-graders. (Bottom row, center) Mrs. Donnelly and the first-graders listen as Chelsea reads one of the pages.