By Jason KUROSU

The sidewalks were slick with rain on Wednesday morning, but that did not deter students of Mountain Avenue Elementary from taking part in International Walk to School Day. A veritable parade of children made their way to school, many with the help of parents, crossing guards and older siblings.
It was the first time Mountain Avenue took part in the event and it proved to be a success as it appeared a large number of the 545 students made the trek to school on foot rather than in cars. This was the hope of principal Rebeca Witt and Crescenta Valley Town Council president Cheryl Davis who greeted the students as they ascended the steps of Mountain Avenue replete with their backpacks, musical instruments and umbrellas for the ones who actually minded the rain.
The event, which occurred at schools nationwide on Oct. 6, was meant to promote walking for several reasons, including regular exercise and concern for the environment. Witt highlighted the need for students to practice proper traffic safety while walking. In turn, with an increase in the number of children walking to school, drivers should be more aware of practicing safe driving, especially in regard to pedestrians.
The rain kept falling in a steady drizzle as the children continued streaming past
Witt and Davis towards the school, some of them bundled in rain boots and layers of coats while others walked carefree, almost pleased to be in T-shirts and shorts.
Initially, the rain seemed to put a damper on a successful Walk to School Day. In the end, however, it proved an apt test of the students’ walking safety, but a test they passed easily.