The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program promotes healthy alternatives for children and parents in their travel to and from school and educates students, parents and community members on the value of walking and bicycling. A group of about twenty students and two volunteer parents joined Fall River Police Officer Mike Malek for the first day of a weekly Wednesday walk to school that started on Massachusetts Walk and Bike To School Day, May 6, 2015. The students were joined by Partners School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard, Mass in Motion Fall River Coordinator Julie Kelly, SRTS Director Erin Reed,  Principal Kyle Granfield, and two parents for the half-mile walk to the Viveiros Elementary School, picking up other students on the way. The School will benefit in the next two years from a one million dollar grant to upgrade walking access to the school given by MassDOT. Click here for photos of this year's Walk To School event and here for photos from the 2014 International Walk to School Day last October. For more information contact Fall River Mass in Motion Coordinator Julianne Kelly at 508-324-2405. (Photos courtesy of Julianne Kelly.) 

(Top row) Students assemble at the Sunset Hill playground with Principal Kyle Granfield and Fall River Police Officer Mike Malek. (Row two) Officer Malek leads the groups from Sunset Hill to the Viveiros School stopping at the Abbott Court playground after posing for a photo with parent volunteer monitors Zoribel Cotta and Colleen Davoll.. (Row three, left and right) The group of students are assembled by Sunset Hill Manager Lorie Ras for a group photo in front of the playground. (Row three, center) Erin Reed is joined by Principal Granfield, Marcia Picard, Officer Malek and Lorie Ras for a group photo. (Bottom row) Students enjoy the walk which they plan to do every Wednesday until the end of the school year in June.