South SF Students Participate In Ruby Bridges Walk To School Day

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Students, parents and teachers of Martin Elementary School in South San Francisco trekked half a mile on Wednesday in observance of the first Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in California.

They were joined by state Sen. Josh Becker (D-Peninsula), who introduced legislation in September to recognize Nov. 14 in honor of Ruby Bridges, the first Black student to integrate an elementary school in the South.

Senate Resolution 59 passed unanimously and caps a three-year effort by fifth grade classes at Martin Elementary School to recognize Bridges after one student asked their teacher, Deborah Carlino, why there wasn't a Ruby Bridges Day when learning about the Civil Rights figure.

“I’m deeply honored to participate in this impressive effort by Martin Elementary School and the students of teacher Deborah Carlino, whose successive fifth-grade classes have worked since the 2017-18 school year to make to today’s celebration a reality in California,” Becker said in a news release.

The class collected over 1,100 signatures for a petition, persuading the South San Francisco Unified School District Board to establish the day. Later classes worked for recognition from the San Mateo County Board of Education, the South San Francisco City Council and the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

“When I look at where we are as a school and community now in terms of celebrating Ms. Ruby Bridges, I am amazed and honored to have witnessed how it all started," Martin Elementary School Principal Jonathan Covacha said in a news release. “We are very grateful for the learning opportunity this brings to our students, giving them the chance to engage in conversations regarding the civil rights movement and discuss what they can do to be part of the process as we continue to inch forward to equality as a country.”