Nearly 60 schools in Sonoma County participated in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day this November. The day honors six-year-old Ruby Bridges, who stepped into the history books in 1960 when she integrated William Franz Elementary School in New Orleans and became a national icon for the civil rights movement.
In Sonoma County, our Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program supported the event with infographics and resources, and also connected schools with AAA who provided fun incentives like purple flags and purple beanies. SRTS is thrilled to be part of the movement to honor Ruby and her legacy of inspiring the next generation of leaders to end racism, one step at a time.
A number of our local schools celebrated Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in very creative and meaningful ways:
- At RL Stevens Elementary in Santa Rosa, students created posters in honor of Ruby, which were displayed around the school. The student body walked around their courtyard and listened to a reading about Ruby.
- At both Brookhaven Middle School in Sebastopol and Manzanita Elementary School in Santa Rosa, the entire staff and student body headed out for a neighborhood walk.
- At Hidden Valley Elementary in Santa Rosa, organizers passed out purple hearts to each class so students, teachers and staff could write messages about Ruby’s courage and strength that were displayed all around the school. They also created a walking path through the school.
- At McNear Elementary in Petaluma, the school community met up locally and walked to school together, waving purple flags and wearing purple beanies.
- At Monroe Elementary in Santa Rosa, about 70 students and staff met up with the SRJC Football Team at a local park and walked to school together.
- At Willowside Middle School in west Santa Rosa, about 25 students, staff and parents met at a location about ½ a mile from school and walked together to school.
Thanks to the Sonoma County schools who engaged so thoughtfully in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day! We look forward to celebrating this special day next year.
–Sarah Hadler and Christina Panza, Sonoma County Safe Routes to School