Thirkill PTO Kicks off Fun Run

The Fun Run is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Thirkill PTO, and it’s safe to say that kids are now pretty excited about it after this year’s top prizes were unveiled.  

Amanda Larsen and Kate Lauck from the PTO were on hand for the “kick off assembly,” which coincided with the students receiving their donor packets for the fundraiser. Students are encouraged to get sponsorships from friends, family, and whoever else for the miles that they run at the beginning of October when the actual fun run takes place.  

Grace Auga is the artist whose design was revealed to have been chosen for the official event flyer, and she was recognized in front of the assembled student body.  Her poster features a Cardinal in sneakers, and the slogan “Active Body Active Mind Active Life”.

In conjunction with the Fun Run, Caribou Medical Center, who is the event’s top sponsor, introduced new care provider Patricia Conner to talk about staying healthy with the students.  She talked about the importance of hygiene and nutrition, as well as other ways that Thirkill students could make sure that they stayed healthy.  Conner has recently joined CMC and comes with a background in pediatrics and Family Practice medicine.  She grew up in Twin Falls, and is a lifelong Idaho resident. 

Various businesses around town have begun posting their Thirkill Sponsor signs at their locations.  Anyone looking to help raise funds for the school can support their own or local kids in the efforts to run as many miles as they can for pledged amounts.  The school can be contacted directly at 208-547-4426 for information about donations to the PTO, the Fun Run, or students.   Checks can be made out to Thirkill PTO directly or donations can be made through the PTO’s 99 Pledges page.  

As the primary fundraiser for the year, the Fun Run carries a lot of the responsibility for ensuring  that the school is able to provide for its students and teachers in the way its leadership sees as important.  The PTO works throughout the year to raise money for building funds, science units, math manipulatives, assemblies, and playground equipment.  This year, new swings are one of the bucket list items, as well as a concrete pad to expand the options for four square, hopscotch, and other outdoor games.

For each tier of donations brought in by the students, there is a range of prizes to be won, including bowling passes from the Alley, drinks from Soda Sip, Maverik cards, Cardinal tumblers, and more.  Prizes will be given out for students at levels $20, $50, $100, and $250, and all students will receive a T-Shirt.  During the explanation of those prizes, the gym was a dull roar.  You can only imagine how deafening the atmosphere became when the top prizes—four electric go-kart style cars—became.  

After watching PTO President Amanda Larsen take a few spins on one of the cars, the energy was intense. Even though it was the very end of a long school Monday, there is no doubt that these kids would have been just as amped either way.  And they certainly are off an running as the countdown to October 2nd starts ticking. 

The Day of October 2, the schedule will have kindergarten and preschool running from 900 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., 2nd grade from 9:45 to 10:30, 3rd grade from 10:30 to 11:15, 1st grade from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., afternoon kindergarten from 1:45 to 2:30 and 4th grade from 2:30 to 3:15.