La Mesa Middle School Walkers Serenaded, Cheered by Helix Students

About 150 La Mesa Middle School students met at the parking lot of Helix Charter High School about 8 a.m. Wednesday for a walk east on Normal Avenue—lucking out when misty weather didn’t produce the showers that drenched last year’s International Walk to School Day.

On arrival 20 minutes later, students were greeted by Helix bagpipers and cheerleaders, and the latter performed at ceremonies in the auditorium before school started at 8:55 a.m.

Principal Beth Thomas pronounced the turnout “awesome”—with more than 20% of the student body of 680 making the hike.

She introduced Mayor Art Madrid—one of many city officials taking part in the annual walk. At Lemon Avenue Elementary, City Manager Dave Witt, Councilman Mark Arapostathis and interim Police Chief Ed Aceves greeted students as well.

Kim Dumas awarded prizes to students who made the walk (and who had raffle tickets from the Helix parking lot to prove it). 

Among the prizes: an iPod Shuffle from Walk San Diego, two one-year memberships to the Kroc Center, $50 vouchers for play at the Stadium Golf & Batting Cages on Aero Drive in San Diego, two $15 iTunes gift cards, and “a ridiculous amount of stuff from Helix High School.”

Helix 2013 principal Elena Christian helped arrange the student volunteers and performers, Dumas said.

Later, the school will award Baskin-Robbins ice cream parties to the top La Mesa Middle homerooms taking part, and the local school with the most particpants—possibly La Mesa Middle—will get two bicycles for another raffle.

Dumas said her day began at 5 a.m., and included distribution of mini-muffins from Smart & Final.