Every Friday, some students in Modesto, California aren’t met by a big yellow school bus, but by the smiling faces of their teachers and support staff who walk them to school. Staff from Bret Harte Elementary School and Hanshaw Middle School meet at the elementary school for a light breakfast, and then by 7:35 AM, they begin walking to meet students. While some families find the group along the way, pulling over in the car to let their children join in, others are assisted with crossing the street or even welcomed with a friendly knock on their front door in the morning. Between 25 to more than 100 families, students, and staff participate, on average, each Friday. According to Bret Harte Principal Marla Conteh, the initiative has not only helped improve attendance, but has bolstered the relationship with the surrounding community. “Our Bret Harte staff wanted to connect with families and scholars on a more personal level and walking to school together was the perfect way to make t...