I am writing to thank the wonderful community volunteers who currently “drive” the Bridge Street School Walking School Bus: Howard Moore, Barbara Smith, Greg Kerstetter, Becky Shannon, Deb Henson and Diane Porcella and Carole Johnson.
Each weekday morning, two of these individuals (on a rotating schedule) meet up with Bridge Street student “riders” at Sheldon Field and walk these students to the school, picking up more students as they walk along the WSB route.
This dedicated group walks in all manner of weather and sidewalk conditions, without exception. They have befriended each and every child while engaging them in lively conversations about music, nature, sports, pop culture and more, making our students feel like they belong to a special community of friends.
While it is notable that the efforts of this group help promote a more sustainable environment by taking cars off our roads, it is even more significant that their work helps our students transition into the long school day in a more positive frame of mind than they would if riding in a car/bus or walking alone.
The commitment of these volunteer drivers to the WSB program and our students is a shining example of the generous community involvement in our local schools that benefits us all. The Bridge Street community is deeply grateful for this group of amazing people without which there would simply be no Walking School Bus.
Stephanie Pouliot
Northampton
The author is the parent of a student at Bridge Street School and its Walking School Bus coordinator.