School Building Week 2009 features the School of the Future Student Design Competition; Healthy Schools Day; a national School Building Week Walking School Bus; an historic look at our schools through our children's eyes; a focus on excellent schools that serve as centers of community; and a wide variety of events.

Our children spend the majority of their waking hours in a school. School Building Week provides an opportunity to draw national attention to the importance of well planned, healthy, high performing, safe and sustainable schools that enhance student achievement and community vitality. As the building blocks of communities throughout the world and the keystone of our future, schools should be sustainable spaces for lifelong learning. School Building Week affords the opportunity to educate the public, as well as policymakers and legislators, regarding the significance of school facilities and the need to improve them. It is incumbent upon all of us to improve the places where children learn.

Each community values its schools in a manner unique to its local educational needs and curriculum focus. School Building Week is a time when school districts in every community may engage in activities and celebrations that channel students, parents legislators and other affected constituencies to consider the role the school building plays in the educational process. Today we have an opportunity to create effective learning environments that reflect the community's unique assets as well as its needs; serve as a resource of education, health and human services to students and neighborhood members alike; and strengthen community life.

• School Building Week Highlights and Photos

• A Call for Action

• School Building Week Timeline

• Potential School Building Week Activities

• Organizing a School Building Week Walking School Bus

• Building Local Partnerships