MEDIA ADVISORY: Montgomery County to Host ‘Walk and Roll to School Day’ Event on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Fox Chapel Elementary School in Germantown

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 7, 2024

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Safe Routes to School program, which encourages students who have a safe path and live near their elementary school to walk to school, will host a student event to celebrate national “Walk and Roll to School Day” on Wednesday, Oct. 9 starting at 8:15 a.m. at Fox Chapel Elementary School. Fox Chapel Elementary School is located at 19315 Archdale Road in Germantown. 

The event in Germantown will begin with a short group walk with students from two different locations at 8:15 a.m.: 

• Intersection of Gunners Branch Road and Archdale Road. 

• Fox Chapel Neighborhood Park at 9129 Staleybridge Road. 

The walking groups, led by MCDOT’s Zeal the Safety Zebra and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue’s Sparky the Fire and Rescue Dog, will finish at the front of Fox Chapel Elementary School. The event will commence with fanfare including music, balloons, giveaways, police officers, firefighters and firetrucks. Students will be singing and carrying signs. 

Partners at the MCDOT sponsored event include Vision Zero, Montgomery County Police Department and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue. 

All elementary schools are encouraged to participate in the nationally recognized Walk and Roll to School Day campaign by organizing an event that day.  

Walk and Roll to School Day is an annual event that involves communities from across the country walking and rolling to school on the same day. It began in 1997 and over time, this celebration has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school.  

EVENT:  Celebrating National Walk and Roll to School Day 

DATE:  Wednesday, Oct. 9 

TIME:  Event will be set up by 8 a.m. with the student walks beginning at 8:15 a.m. Student involvement in front of the school will take place primarily between 8:30-9:15 a.m. 

LOCATION:  Fox Chapel Elementary School, 19315 Archdale Road, Germantown. 

WHO:    

• Councilmember Gabe Albornoz
  
  
• Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe    

• Councilmember Will Jawando 

• Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles 

• County Vision Zero Coordinator Wade Holland
  
  
• Montgomery County Department of Transportation Director Chris Conklin

• Firefighters from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service 

• Officers from the Montgomery County Police Department

• Officers from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Park Police 

• MCDOT’s Zeal the Safety Zebra 

• Montgomery County Fire and Rescue’s Sparky the Fire and Rescue Dog 

PHOTO OP:   Attendees will be available for interviews. Group pictures will be arranged. There will be a large display, music, firetrucks. Zeal the Traffic Safety Zebra and Sparky the Fire and Rescue Dog will be actively interacting with school children.   

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Release ID: 24-123
Media Contact: Emily DeTitta, 240-372-2282