WINDSOR — Windsor Middle School students joined schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on Wednesday.

Approximately 150 students from Windsor Middle and Westside Elementary schools walked to school along with parents, teachers and community leaders. Isle of Wight County Schools organized the event as part of the Safe Routes to School initiative.

Safe Routes to School aims to improve children’s health by making it safer for them to walk and bike to school. Each school had a designated rally site for students and parents to receive snacks and water donated by Farm Fresh, water bottles and reusable bags donated by Isle Be Green, and pedometers and T-shirts provided through grant funds from Prevention Connections.

Students also had a chance to register for a bicycle drawing sponsored by HPS Bicycle Shop in Smithfield and Napolitano Homes in Windsor.

Before walking down North Court Street to Windsor Middle School, gym teacher Jeff Hampton led students in stretching and warm-up exercises. The group walked to the school escorted by an Isle of Wight County sheriff’s deputy.

Isle of Wight County Schools has received $70,000 in federal stimulus money to conduct a sidewalk feasibility study and develop school travel plans at each location. An additional $500,000 in federal Highway Safety Improvement Funds will fund the construction of sidewalks in the Windsor area. Applications for additional funding in Windsor and Smithfield are pending.