Kids Walk To School Wednesday: Rancho Santa Margarita

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — Students across southern California, together with parents, teachers and school staffers, took to the streets Wednesday to mark Walk to School Day, which promoted the health benefits of walking or biking to campus but encourages the development of safe routes for kids to travel to class.

Across the Southland, more than 250 schools are expected to participate, including over 50 Orange County schools and more than 120 Los Angeles Unified schools. Students walked with members of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, and some of the students carried cardboard cutouts of a "walking school bus" or signs showing "Children Walking, Drive Safely."

Walk to School Day began in 1997, with organizers saying the effort has led to a year-round effort to improve safety for children walking or biking to campus. The event is held across the country, and internationally.

Mission Viejo mother Cheri Love shared her comments with the OCSD, over facebook, saying, "Everyday should be a walk to school day! If you live close enough to the school why would waste fuel and time sitting in a drop off line? We used to bike together for drop offs and pick ups. Never had to sit in a line or park. It was so easy."

In Laguna Beach, several officers and detectives walked kids to Top of the World school Wednesday morning, with the Laguna Beach student resource officer, LBPD Sgt. Jim Cota told us. "Everyone had a blast! Our officers will do anything for the kids," he said.

The Capistrano Unified School District showed their Walk to School pride, when the Laguna Niguel Police Services held traffic for students heading to Bergeson and Hidden Hills Elementary School.

In Costa Mesa, students and Costa Mesa Police posed in front of the Kaiser Elementary school in an effort to promote "safe walking and biking for children," Costa Mesa Police spokesperson Roxi Fyad said over Twitter.

Further north, in Los Alamitos, students and parents paused to show their Walk to School pride.

The Roosmoor Knights had a fun time, mugging with some local Fire Authority folks.

RT Rossmoorknights "Fantastic morning celebration for Rossmoor Knights! #rossmoorwalkstoschool #KnightPRIDE pic.twitter.com/HuFAuHfN0Q"
— Los Alamitos USD (@LosAlamitosUSD) October" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/LosAlamito... 10, 2018

Back down in Mission Viejo, the Orange County Sheriff's Department made sure these students made it to school safely.

Do you have a Walk to School Day picture to share? Email your Patch Editor, with a little bit about your school and what Walk to School day means to you, and enter for Patch's Photo of the Week!

Mission Viejo Police Services photo