Kirkland students throughout the city participated in Walk Your Child to School Week Oct. 6-10. The event was hosted by the Lake Washington School District and the city of Kirkland. International Walk to School Day was Oct. 8.

The event was planned as a way to map safe routes for students to take through the neighborhood to local schools. The Safe Routes to School map was adopted by the Kirkland City Council in early 2014. Individual school events were planned and carried out primarily by PTA volunteers at each school.

In all, nine Kirkland elementary schools participated: Ben Franklin, Thoreau, Sandburg, Juanita, Peter Kirk, Helen Keller, Rose Hill, Mark Twain and Bell.

The schools had representatives at the Kirkland City Council meeting on Oct. 7 to receive Kirkland Mayor Amy Walen’s “Walk Your Child To School Week” proclamation. Councilmembers and city staff also attended many of the celebrations throughout the week at the various schools.

Students who walked to school receive a yellow reflecting vest donated by the Northshore Utility District.

Each school took a turn having Kirkland police and firefighters visit with patrol cars and fire engines on display for the kids to look at and experience.

Helen Keller Elementary hosted a Walk and Bike to school Day on Oct. 9. Principal Sandra Dennehy dressed in a costume as “Ped Bee,” the city of Kirkland Pedestrian Bee Mascot.

Students were also encouraged to mark their walking route on maps of the neighborhood.

Kirkland Cycle was also at Peter Kirk Elementary on Thursday for the celebration, as employees offered kids a free tuneup for their bikes.

Kirkland Cycle mechanic Matt Caracoglia, left, tunes the bike of Sam Schwarz, pictured in the blue jacket, as Chase Martin, right, looks on. Kirkland Cycle employees volunteered time and expertise at Peter Kirk Elementary on Oct. 9 as part of the annual Walk to School week. Caracoglia and fellow Kirkland Cycle mechanic Garrett Stuart tuned seven bikes in 45 minutes. Christian Knight/City of Kirkland

A Helen Keller community volunteer Pam Richmond, center, and PTA board member Jennifer Koop, left, help students Emma Artz, Gabriella Forcino and Rachel Cook to identify their walk route on a map of the neighborhood. Contributed/April Johnson-Shults

Helen Keller principal Sandra Dennehy, dress as the Bee mascot, high fives Trish Johnson on Thursday during walk to school week at the elementary. Contributed/April Johnson-Shults