Students go walk-crazy to raise money
October 8, 2008
By Laura Geggel
Opstad Elementary had much to celebrate Oct. 2 — the school’s 20th anniversary and the 12th annual walk-a-thon.
Julia Morrill marks a lap on a card on her son Hyram’s back during the Opstad walk-a-thon Oct. 2.
The students began the day by crowding under an archway of balloons on the field and singing “Happy birthday, dear Opstad Elementary,” before separating into two groups to start the two-hour walk-a-thon. Grades kindergarten through second walked around the right side of the field, while students in grades third through fifth — who have longer legs and can go faster — walked around the left side.
Walk-a-thons are fundraisers that contribute to the PTSA, which funds fieldtrips, teachers, assemblies, teaching aids and learning enrichment supplies. Community members can fund students either on a flat pledge or on a lap-by-lap basis.
How fast did fourth-grader Kiley Jenson-Snyder go during the event?
“Real fast,” Jenson-Snyder said.
She had already walked 36 laps and wanted to make it to lap 52. With each lap equaling one-eighth of a mile, the students had made progress, but some were getting weary after dozens of turns.
“My feet are a little tired, but I think it will be okay,” said fourth-grader Emily Montgomery who had just completed lap 37.
Third-grade students Katherine Claffey and Julianna Buyers said they passed the time by chatting with one another.
“We’ve mostly been talking,” Buyers said. She encouraged people to donate to walk-a-thon, “So we can do fun stuff, like go on fieldtrips.”
For the first time this school year, all of the five elementary schools are holding walk-a-thons. Fall City and Opstad elementary schools have already hosted theirs, but students can still collect pledges until Oct. 15 for Fall City and Oct. 20 for Opstad.
Both Opstad and Fall City hope to raise $60,000. Last year, Fall City collected about $67,000 and Opstad received about $50,000.
If Fall City reaches its goal, each teacher will receive $500.
“The teachers love it,” said Betsy Evensen of the Fall City Elementary PTSA. “They buy curriculum. They go to training classes and organize fieldtrips. They know they have the parent and community support.”
Opstad Principal John Jester said that the PTSA money pays the salary for the school’s art enrichment and reading intervention instructors.
“It not only raises money, it’s fun,” Jester said.
“It’s a great way to raise money without selling something,” said Opstad PTSA member Linda Young. Normally when schools hold fundraisers, some of the money goes toward a product. Almost 100 percent of Walk-a-thon money goes to the schools. The PTSAs keep a small percent — Evensen said it was about 5 percent at Fall City — for operation costs and overhead.
Each school has more than 100 parent volunteers help with walk-a-thons. Each time a student completes another loop, an adult checks off another number on their card. The boy and girl students who walk the most and raise the most money are rewarded with a thrill; at Opstad elementary, they get to ride in a limousine with Principal Jester to McDonald’s.
Fall City Elementary honors the top boy and girl from each grade with a bowling trip with Prinicipal Dan Schlotfeldt. The class that raises the most money gets to spend time with a local athlete — last year Seahawk Bobby Engram spoke to children about goal setting.
Teachers work goal setting into the curriculum and highlight their own life goals, Evensen said.
North Bend Elementary is raising its walk-a-thon goals. Last year, students earned $35,000, while they are hoping to reach $55,000 this year.
“We give teachers money every year for enrichment,” said Kathy Turpin, walk-a-thon chair. “We do a lot of grants for the teachers, like they have lion dancers who come for the kindergartens.”
North Bend’s top walkers get prizes like iPods and Blockbuster gift cards.
Snoqualmie Elementary, whose walk-a-thon will be held the same day as North Bend Elementary Oct. 9, used money from last year’s event to buy ACTIVBoards — an interactive, touch-sensitive whiteboard. And they didn’t stop there.
“We’ve funded a whole day-per-week of art,” said Geoff Doy with the Snoqualmie Elementary PTSA. “It’s our only fundraiser this year. We’re giving the auction a rest.”
This will be the first year Cascade View Elementary is holding a walk-a-thon. The PTSA is aiming for the $20,000 mark when they host it in the spring.
“We hoping to start small and move up,” said Cliff Brown, PTSA president.
To donate, visit www.svsd410.org and select a school under the “Our Schools” link. Each school Web page will have a link to their PTSA site.
Reach reporter Laura Geggel at 392-6434 .221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com. To comment on the story, go to www.snovalleystar.com.
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