Walk A Thon

Each year, the Elementary School has one of our favorite traditions in October- the Walk A Thon! This is such an exciting event that truly makes us all feel like an incredible community, working together. This year, on October 18, we celebrated our 10th annual Walk A Thon! 

Students raise funds which allows them to be part of a huge raffle with prizes donated from local businesses, community members and HBR families. We set fundraising goals for students to earn “All School Prizes.” 

We have many parents and family members that come to the day of our event to volunteer their time. They cheer our students on as they run and walk laps. They punch students lanyard cards each time they complete another lap on our beautiful ⅓ mile course in the back of our school. Students enjoy some obstacle course elements along the way and our younger students enjoy chalking our blacktop. Music fills the atmosphere to motivate students. We even had an inflatable shark join us this year! 

We host a short “Walk A Thon Assembly” in the weeks after to celebrate our successes. This year, our students, parents, families, friends and community members raised over $6700! These funds are earmarked for items that teachers can use for students that make teaching and learning engaging and special … those things that make a classroom ‘above and beyond.’ Top earners are announced and raffle prizes are shared. Our students worked hard together to make their goals … earning an all school popcorn and movie afternoon, a “rock out at recess” day with a DJ at recess and an all school ice cream sundae celebration. 

We also celebrate the running accomplishments! For the 1st time in 10 years, we had a female top runner! Mille Long from 4th grade ran 8.3 miles! Mrs. O’Donnell’s 3rd grade class had the highest average number of laps and the overall grade with the highest number of laps this year was 4th grade. Overall, our students and staff ran or walked 1,010 miles!

The BEST thing about the Walk A Thon is how it brings us all together for an afternoon of fun, encouragement, camaraderie and school spirit. It is a tradition and event we look forward to each year. Our students and staff proudly and loudly wear their grade’s color. And the sense of accomplishment it brings is one that we celebrate throughout the year. The elementary school wishes to thank our local community businesses and families that support the Walk A Thon. You are supporting our students and you are making a difference. Thank you! 

Written By: HBRES Principal, Deborah Hervey