Commentary by Ashley Knott
From 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 12, Maple Glen Elementary School will be changing things up with a day filled with healthy living. The idea grew as we decided to return to the grass roots and simplify our fundraising. One thing led to another and the PTO-sponsored WalkAthon is now so much more.
Our theme is: “Catch the Weather Bug, dig in the dirt, and race around the track to a healthier tomorrow.” Our mission is to raise a minimum of $30,000 where 100 percent of the funds support Maple Glen students and teachers. Our goal is to create an environmental outdoor lab, purchase the Weather Bug, build a greenhouse, apple orchard, herb garden, butterfly garden, as well as support school programs, enhance enrichment, purchase classroom materials and provide assistance to students.
A Weather Bug is an incredible instrument that will benefit the entire Westfield community and our visitors. A Weather Bug at the school would provide valuable safety information as well as put Westfield on the map.
Creating an environmental outdoor classroom with shelter will help meet the primary goal of bridging the learning and real-world choices by having students immersed in all aspects of a garden. The cross-curricular opportunities for educators are endless and all food harvested from the garden will be donated to local shelters.
Healthy Living Week starts Sept. 8 with a pep rally. From then through Sept. 11 every student and teacher will have the opportunity to participate in a StepAthon competition. Thanks to Westfield Foot & Ankle, every Maple Glen student will receive a pedometer to count those steps.
On Sept. 12, there will be healthy living sessions hosted by Riverview Health, HPMA and more. We will get the kids energized via a WalkAthon ceremony midday with special guests Mayor Andy Cook, the Westfield fire and police departments, Westfield Karate, Indy Fuel, Indy Elven, and Indianapolis Colts’ Blue. Friday will be the grand finale as we explore healthy lifestyle examples for our students.
We are challenging the community to join us and sponsor the event. We also are challenging our students to collect pledges for their Walk. For every $25 they collect they will earn a raffle ticket to win amazing prizes. For every $50 a student collects, they will get a chance to knock Coach Matt Pribbeno in the dunk tank or collect $150 and Principal Joe Montalone has offered to take a seat in the dunk tank.
Those interested in donating may visit www.ptomges.org. Checks, payable to MGES PTO, may be directly mailed to Maple Glen WalkAthon 17171 Ditch Rd., Westfield, 46074. We need you as this is a community effort!
Ashley Knott is the PTO President at Maple Glen Elementary School. She may be contacted at [email protected] or www.ptomges.org.
