Taking the “Walking School Bus” with Lion’s Pride

On a gorgeous late September afternoon, the teachers of EBALDC’s Lion’s Pride after-school program meet and prepare for the afternoon at the Family Resource Center at our Lion Creek Crossings complex. Soon they will leave to perform their duties for the “Walking School Bus”, a program that arose from a blueprint provided by Safe Routes to School.

Before school gets out, the teachers (Kevin Celeridad, Marikit Mayeno, and Kwanya Watkins) walk the approximately half-mile distance from the after-school program to pick up the elementary school-aged children at Lockwood STEAM Academy. On the way over, Ms. Kwanya discusses how Lion’s Pride creates a culture of respect and fairness with the kids through an emphasis on following rules, being accountable, and staying positive. Mr. Kevin adds that inclusivity is critical to the program. The kids share with each other about their cultures, for example, about Ramadan and Eid.

Once at Lockwood, Miss Kwanya goes to the kindergarten classes to collect the younger students in our program. The older children and their Lockwood teachers know they are to meet at the newly rehabbed basketball courts. (Note: Lockwood STEAM Academy was one of 6 schools whose schoolyards were recently rehabbed by Steph and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation.)

While the teachers wait for the kids to all come out, we take a moment to ask 5th grader, Reanell, who has been a part of the afterschool program since kindergarten, for her favorite aspect of the Lion’s Pride after school program. “I guess the staff. They’re really helpful and nice.” says Reanell. We jokingly asked whether she had been paid to say that, and her response was immediately thoughtful: “Well, if they were to pay me to say anything, it would not be in money, but it would be in respect.”

A critical mass of kids converges on the basketball court, and Mr. Kevin gathers them together to get ready to walk to Lion’s Pride.

Mr. Kevin chats with Abraj.

The Walking School Bus contingent starts walking towards Lion Creek Crossings.

Miss Marikit and Miss Kwanya are in the background as Sofia, Mona, and Dunia walk to Lion’s Pride; Reanell to the right. “It’s better than school!” says Dunia about the afterschool program. Miss Marikit, who is new to teaching in the program this year, says one thing she has learned so far is how “multi-dimensional” the kids are, that her role is “not just to be a teacher, but to be a caretaker,” and that as a teacher and caregiver, “you need a lot of skill sets.”

With Mr. Kevin leading the way on the Walking School bus, and Miss Marikit in the middle, Miss Kwanya brings up the rear, making sure all the kids are accounted for. Miss Kwanya is excited for the upcoming Halloween season, when she will lead the kids in themed art projects like making skeleton puppets or sugar skulls for Dia de los Muertos. She will also prepare Halloween goodie bags for the kids, incorporating things like coloring books and candy that the kids—many of whom are Muslim—can eat that doesn’t include gelatin as an ingredient.

When we arrive at the Lion’s Pride classroom, the room echoes with a ruckus and din as the kids get settled. The program then begins with Mr. Kevin asking for a volunteer to lead the room in a 5-finger meditation designed to calm everyone down before getting to everyone’s favorite: snack time!