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Jog A Thon Buoys Parent Teacher Organizations
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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} The natural exuberance of youth was in full force Friday, Oct. 8 at the annual Jog-A-Thon event featured at all four school sites where students ran or walked their hearts out for prizes, school pride, and to raise money for much-needed school supplies or programs. Pictured, two schoolmates at Sierra View Elementary try to outrun one another. - photo by Kim Van Meter/The Leader

With a “ready, set, go” and upbeat music pumping through the loud speakers, Oakdale elementary school students throughout the district ran their laps in the annual Jog A Thon on Friday, Oct. 8.

The elementary school Parent Teacher Clubs (PTC) and Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in the Oakdale Joint Unified School District rely on this event to be their primary fundraiser and see them through the school year so they can provide funding for field trips, assemblies, class supplies, plays, playground enhancements, family nights, and more.

Sierra View PTC member Rachel Jones reported that they raised over $42,000 at their school’s Jog A Thon event. PTC President Angie Dart said that they usually plan in their budget to raise about $28,000 to $30,000. She added that the students had some incentive this year when they were told that if they raised $35,000, then Principal Teri Taylor would kiss a pig. If they raised $38,000, then Taylor would dress like Elvis and kiss a pig.

“They’ve brought in a phenomenal amount.” Dart said. “They always amaze us.”

Jones added that each sixth grader can raise the money for their Outdoor Education fee of $221 through Jog A Thon. She said that approximately $10,000 of Sierra View’s Jog A Thon funds go toward the sixth grade science camp.

Dart reported that they usually do only one or two fundraisers per year. Another fundraiser is the book fair, which each school hosts, where the school library can receive credits for books through the book fair revenue. This allows the library to stock up on new titles.

Fair Oaks PTA President Heather Kujawski reported that they raised approximately $25,000 at Jog A Thon. She said that this year, they are adding a new fundraiser to their docket called “Vendor Blender.” The event is for vendors who have home-based businesses, such as crafts, candles, jewelry, kitchen items, and so on.

PTA member Laura Cunningham is chairing the Vendor Blender, which will be held on Friday, Nov. 5 in the Fair Oaks cafeteria from 2:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. They are asking vendors to supply $5, an item from their business that they can donate for a giveaway at the event, and also allow the Fair Oaks PTA to be considered the “host” for sales from the event, where the PTA can receive the free product derived from those sales that they can later use for silent auction items at their Family Fun Night in May.

Cunningham added that they will provide the tables to the vendors and that the vendors will have one hour to set up prior to the event and refreshments will also be available.

To find out more about being a vendor at the Vendor Blender, the deadline is quickly approaching, contact Cunningham via e-mail at lcunningham2981@yahoo.com.

This year’s Jog A Thon T-shirt design contest winner was Fair Oaks sixth grader Lydia Nuño. It featured each of the school’s mascots in the design.

Magnolia PTC President Stephanie Hicks reported that they raised approximately $27,000 from Jog A Thon. She said that additional fundraisers they do during the school year are See’s candy, their fall festival, as well as the book fairs.

Cloverland Principal Stacey Aprile reported that they brought in over $23,000 from Jog A Thon this year. She said that their PTC is planning a new fundraiser for the school this year called the “Great American Fundraiser,” which is a catalog-style sale that starts soon and runs through November. She added that along with their family fun night in April and semi-annual book fairs, the PTC also has a student store that the student council helps staff and that it, too, contributes toward PE equipment and classroom supplies.

The parent teacher organizations from each school have also banded together this year to form “Camp Savers,” which is to raise funds specifically for sixth grade science camp. Camp Savers members work together district-wide and have several fundraising efforts planned for the year.