Posted November 2023
More than 1,300 Kyrene students from Kyrene de las Brisas Elementary School and Kyrene Aprende Middle School participated in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. This is the 2nd year in a row that Brisas has joined schools across the country in the annual event to fight racism and bullying. Students on the shared campus are some of the first in Arizona to participate in the nationwide event.
The walk was inspired by six-year-old Ruby Bridges, who integrated William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960. The Ruby Bridges Foundation created the event to inspire students to continue the dialogue to end racism and unify their communities, as well as to commemorate Ruby’s history walk to school.
Check out some photos from this year's event below!
From left to right. Back row: Kyrene Aprende Principal Renee Kory, Kyrene de las Brisas Principal Christie Winkelmann. Front row: Chandler Mayor Hartke, Kyrene Superintendent Laura Toenjes, Kyrene Governing Board Vice President Michelle Fahy, Kyrene Governing Board Member Trine Nelson, Kyrene Governing Board Member Margaret Wright, Kyrene Governing Board Member Wanda Kolomyjec.
Speaker Eric Bailey addressed students, staff, and community members during the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day event. (photo by Heather Partman)
Kyrene Governing Board members, Superintendent Toenjes, community members and Kyrene students line up before beginning the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day walk through Desert Breeze Park in Chandler.
Over 1,000 students joined staff, parents and community members in the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day event. (photo by Heather Partman)
Kyrene students show off their handmade signs while walking through Desert Breeze Park in Chandler during the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day event.
In the shared campus' first joint community event, Kyrene Aprende Middle School students walked with a "buddy" from Kyrene de las Brisas Elementary School during the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day event.
Kyrene staff members led groups of students in chants during the walk in Desert Breeze Park in Chandler.
