Marion E. Zeh Elementary School in Northborough was awarded the most innovative Safe Routes to School program. The award was presented at the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School forum March 10 at the Newton Marriott.

The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program, part of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, recognized Zeh School for its efforts to increase their students’ bicycling and pedestrian activity and safety.

Susan Whitten, principal of Marion E. Zeh School Northborough, and Christine D’Angelo, parent volunteer, attended the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School forum. The theme of the conference was “Walking the Walk: Making Strides in Advancing Safe Routes to School." As a partner school in Safe Routes to School, the Zeh School has advocated student walking and bicycling to school this year for health benefits for the students and environmental improvement.

As part of a panel presentation titled, “Step It Up: How to Organize Successful Events," Whitten and D’Angelo shared their experiences from the 2010-2011 school year in starting a relationship with Safe Routes to School and initiating school-based events for walking and bicycling.

The forum included an awards luncheon, during which Whitten and D’Angelo were honored to accept the award for most innovative Safe Routes to School program for the 2010-2011 school year.

Approximately 120 participants attended the forum, ranging from school staff to parent volunteers to community engineers assisting with improving town infrastructures to support walking and bicycling to school.

In the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program, there are more than 300 elementary and middle schools in 111 communities across the state working with Safe Routes to School, organizing activities and events to encourage students to walk and bike to school.

For additional information about Marion E. Zeh School’s Safe Routes to School program, contact Christine D’Angelo at christinedangelo1@verizon.net or Zeh School principal, Susan Whitten, at swhitten@nsboro.k12.ma.us

For Massachusetts Safe Routes to School information, go to www.mass.gov/MassDOT/.

Submitted by the Marion E. Zeh School