Rain Doesn't Dampen Dunedin Students' 'Walk to School Day'

The party was just getting started as dawn broke over Dunedin Public Library on Wednesday morning.

Donna Katsiyiannis, assistant principal, and teachers kept the party atmosphere going with line dancing to "Macarena" and "The Electric Slide" as hundreds of Dunedin Elementary students and their families buzzed about during the annual International Walk & Roll to School Day.

"The event will help student become aware of directions, street signs, traffic patterns and good pedestrian/bicycle behavior," according to a news release from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. "It promotes a sense of community, as it allows the opportunity for students to socialize with other kids on the way to school; and for parents to dialogue with their kids."

Students and parents were able to tour a city fire truck and solid waste truck and fill goody bags with bananas and other snacks courtesy Public Supermarketl.

Rain began to fall just as Principal Kathy Brickley picked up the megaphone to thank Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies, Dunedin firefighters, crossing guards and other city officials for helping, and then led her students through the surrounding neighborhood streets.

Dunedin Elementary was one of 18 Pinellas County Schools to celebrate. In Dunedin, participating schools included:

• Curtis Fundamental
• Dunedin Elementary 
• Garrison-Jones Elementary
• San Jose Elementary
• Dunedin Highland Middle

What do you think would make Dunedin school routes safer for walkers and bikers? Let us know in the comments.