Sayville Elementary School at Cherry Avenue Encourages Fitness on the Way to School

Walk or Bike: Cherry Avenue Encourages Fitness on the Way to School

Fitness and a cleaner environment may be some of the original reasons for participating in Bike/Walk-To- School-Day, but for the Cherry Avenue Elementary School students and their families, it is the spirit of community that for the third year has brought out the “pedal pushers” in droves.

After years of success with Walk-To- School-Day on national and international levels, the Partnership for a Walkable America introduced National Bike-To- School-Day three years ago;   and thanks to the efforts of Cherry Avenue PTA Wellness Committee Chairperson, Jennifer Travaglia, Cherry Avenue families have been biking since the beginning.

"The goal of Bike-To- School-Day and Walk-To- School-Day is to get kids active in new, fun ways.” Mrs. Travaglia explained. “We all lead such busy lives today, and these events show family members that it is possible to wake up a little earlier and get the family physically active. I hope our Cherry students and their parents will make biking or walking to school part of their regular routine."

Cherry PTA President Marisa Milo was pleased with the response that has been generated by this event. “This event has quickly become a family favorite at Cherry. And as our students and their families arrived at school this year, they were not only cheered on by Principal Dr. Ihne, but they were also greeted by a special guest—QuackerJack from the LI Ducks!  He was on the grounds to give high-fives, take pictures, sign autographs and help us support our riders."

As a reminder that the Cherry Avenue PTA has organized a “Cherry Avenue Night Out” at the Ducks Game for some time in June, QuakerJack made a “promotional” social call to the school. “We thought it would be a great idea for QuackerJack to greet students as they rode their bikes to school.” Mrs. Travaglia said.

Community support for Bike-To- School-Day continued with officers from the Suffolk County Police Department’s C.O.P.E. unit mounted on bicycles to ensure the bikers' safety and to offer their encouragement. 

While Mrs. Milo expressed on behalf of the PTA, how proud we are “of our families and how they have embraced these events that are spearheaded by Mrs. Travaglia,” Mrs. Travaglia was already looking ahead, adding,  “Cherry Avenue Elementary will be participating in Walk-To- School-Day on June 4, 2014.”

It may certainly be true with these Cherry Avenue events, that a community that bikes and walks together, enjoys safer neighborhoods and healthier environments, and actually has fun doing it.