Students at Ann Arbor's Haisley Elementary School raise more than $7K at annual walk-a-thon
The annual Haisley Elementary School Walk-a-Thon took advantage of a slight break in the clouds last week and raised more than $7,000 for the school, Principal Mary Anne Jaegar said.
The school’s 425 students got the chance to run or walk around the school’s track Friday, with the lower grades going out in the morning and the upper elementary grades going out in the afternoon.
Jaegar said this week that the students loved the feeling of having numbers pinned to their shirts like official racers, with each being given a water bottle and the chance to earn more prizes.
“It’s one of the major fundraisers for the school and it is a more productive feeling for the children to have them actively involved as opposed to selling wrapping paper or candy,” she said. “The most important thing is the community spirit it builds.”
Members of the University of Michigan’s women’s swim team and women’s basketball team joined the students, which really excited the kids, Jaegar said.
Having the walk-a-thon on a school day allowed for the entire school to participate, which sometimes isn’t possible on a weekend, Jaegar said. Even parents who are serving as lap counters get into the event, sometimes so focused on counting laps that they don’t feel they should take their eyes away from the track, she said.
Jaegar said the feeling of accomplishing a goal by collecting pledges was also a major positive for the students.
“They get really excited and it’s a way of reaching goals,” she said. “It really helps kids with the whole goal-setting piece and as a parent I know that’s really important.”
Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter. All photos in the slideshow are by Angela J. Cesere.
Comments
aanative
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 10:13 p.m.
Excellent community service activity for all involved, and a great reflection on the UM Women's swim team and b-ball team members!
Pat Mueller
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 7:38 p.m.
Haisley Elementary is in my neighborhood, but because I don't have children in school I was not aware of the Walk-A-Thon. I would love to support events at Haisley, but I NEVER know about them until after the fact. Maybe the Parent Teacher Student group could make a project of posting signs in the neighborhood of upcoming activities. Our neighborhood is heavily traveled by dog walkers, joggers, and strollers. A few signs posted on utility poles would dig up a few more contributors & give the empty nesters a chance to be around our future leaders.
Arboriginal
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 6:59 p.m.
Now if they would only change the school colors back to PINK & BROWN!!!!
Townie
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 6:11 p.m.
Way to go Haisley ! Super. Could you perhaps teach the Pioneer Senior Class about public service instead of public destruction?
Bertha Venation
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 3:52 p.m.
I went to Haisley in the old days, when Miss Ritsama was Principal. I loved that school!
Will
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 2:23 p.m.
Congrats to Haisley Elementary School on their great accomplishment! They should be proud.
a2grateful
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 2:01 p.m.
Haisley is a great school, with a fine tradition of spirited children, active parent contributors, involved and focussed teachers, and smart and compassionate administrators. I support the idea of the walkathon during the school day. It may be one of the most memorable activities for the kids for the entire year . . . and it is very healthy to walk like that. It looks like everyone won . . . Kudos to all Haisley-ites! Walk on . . .
Wolf's Bane
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 1:33 p.m.
I want to first congratulate the participants of the annual Haisley Elementary School Walk-a-Thon which raised more than $7,000 for the school. Kudos to Principal Mary Anne Jaegar! In addition, I would also like to admonish Gov. Snyder for failing to realize the importance of K-12 education in State of Michigan; his indifference and continued slashing of school budgets is an embarrassment to any parents and children everywhere in the state. This event firmly reiterates our community's commitment to our children and illustrates perfectly that if required, we will step up and rally behind our children to get them the education that they need and deserve!