The Skyhawk Trail: Sacajawea Runners - Earn Money for PE Equipment

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Sacajawea Runners - Earn Money for PE Equipment - The Mayor's Challenge

Sacajawea Elementary School students are one of the most active groups of kids in the Treasure Valley. During the month of October, we accepted the Mayor’s walking and running challenge. As a school, we ran about 2600 miles on our “Skyhawk Trail.” While our students run and walk laps on the trail before school and at recess, our staff help them tally their laps by punching their lap cards each time they pass the start. Our PE teacher, Mr. Thomas, collects those lap cards from each classroom and tallies them in a spreadsheet each week.

Every time a student completes 5 miles they get a little foot charm to put on a chain around their neck. Some students have collected dozens of those feet. Just during the month of October, we had seven 4th graders complete more than 40 miles. We had some 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders close behind with more than 25 miles each during the month.

Mayor Nancolas and Connor Sheldon from the Blue Cross Foundation of Idaho presented the school with a check for $500 to be used for PE equipment. Fittingly enough, the ceremony was held on a chilly December morning outdoors on our “Skyhawk Trail.” Our kids don’t just run in October. They run all year long. Some of our staff and parents get out there and put in a few laps too. Some of our most consistent runners accepted the check on behalf of the school.

So, while many may decry the national epidemic of childhood obesity, the Sacajawea Skyhawks have found that walking or running a couple laps is a great way to start our day. We don’t do a whole lot of sitting around.

Here are some highlights from October, with a variety of grades represented.