Thirkill PTO holds annual Fun Run

The Fun Run is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Thirkill PTO, and this year the top prize brought even more excitement to the mix.  

Amanda Larsen and Kate Lauck from the PTO visited students at school in September for a “kick off assembly,” during which the students received their donor packets for the fundraiser. Students were encouraged to get sponsorships from friends, family, and whoever else they could for the laps that they ran during the Fun
Run event.  

The slogan “Active Body, Active Mind, Active Life” was chosen for the event, and it fits well with the mission of Caribou Medical Center, who was the event’s top sponsor.  During the kickoff assembly, CMC 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.  During the Fun Run itself, an hydration and nutrition station was staffed by members of the CMC team. 

Many businesses and organizations around the area posted Thirkill Sponsor signs at their locations, and an even larger number were involved in one way or another with this large undertaking.  Funds raised by the PTO are used to support classroom materials, as well as a range of student and teacher support services.  Items for the teacher’s lounge, for instance, are acquired through the PTO as a way of letting the teachers know that they are thanked for all the effort and hard work they put into educating and nurturing the students of Soda Springs.  While the school district has the funding it needs to operate at a sustained level, there are always unanticipated, or unbudgeted for needs that arise during the year that the PTO funds are essential for.  If you missed the Fun Run itself, the school can be contacted directly at 208-547-4426 for information about how to support its programs.   Additionally, 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 was a range of prizes to be won, including bowling passes from the Alley, drinks from Soda Sip, Maverik cards, Cardinal tumblers, and more.  All students received a matching Cardinal T-Shirt.  The top prizes—four electric go-kart style cars—were awarded to the top runners.  

PTO President Amanda Larsen joined the other members of the PTO, Thirkill faculty and staff, representatives of the sponsoring businesses, and hundreds of parents, for the day of exercise and excitement.  The energy was intense, and sustained. 

To start them off, the students emerged from behind the Fun Run banner, “breaking through” onto the course to the wild cheers of the gathered parents.  After each lap, the runners were given a colored bracelet to keep track of their total number of laps.  The bracelets were counted at the end of each grade’s run, and ranked against the other totals.  There was a predictable range in enthusiasm for running, but the students very clearly gave it their all, and many joined in to run with their friends, even after their own runs.  A number of jealous siblings also jumped onto the course and took their turns.   

There were not official, final numbers as of press time, but anecdotally the average number of laps run across the various classes in twenty minute session was between twenty and thirty, with the fastest students putting more than thirty on the charts.  A list of the many sponsors for the event will be printed along with the winning times and total numbers raised through the event when they are available.  

Congratulations to the impressive students of Thirkill Elementary School, and all the parents, teachers, support staff, relatives, and others who helped generate such a positive and active spirit around the proceedings!