Kennedy walkathon raises money for school

by Cori Hilsgen

news@thenewsleaders.com

Kennedy Community School students, staff and area residents raised almost $20,500 at an annual walkathon event held Sept. 30, the second-highest amount raised since the event was started.

Principal Laurie Putnam said all students and staff participated in the event. They were also joined by St. Joseph Police Chief Joel Klein and St. Joseph Fire Chief Jeff Taufen, who led the school in their first walking lap.

The event was held both inside and outside. Students spent the morning walking around the school’s baseball field and along the edge of the school prairie.

“We keep track of distance walked, and we are proud to say our whole school logged over 7,000 miles that day,” Putnam said.

Middle-level students went inside at about 11 a.m. and participated in open gym and a dance, while the other students continued a day of learning.

The day was concluded with a pep-fest where students and staff played a life-size version of the game “Hungry, Hungry Hippo” and three-legged races.

As an incentive to raise funds, middle-level students were able to duct-tape Putnam to the wall.

Putnam said the walkathon is the school’s primary fundraiser. Students no longer sell food or other items as a means to raise money but instead participate in healthy exercise and relationship-building activities.

The Kennedy Parent Teacher Association uses the money students collect to pay for field trips, classroom supplies and admission fees for students who cannot afford to pay them.

Any leftover funds are given to the school. A team of staff, families and students decides how the remaining funds are used, and Putnam said information is shared with the school when the process is finalized.

“All of the proceeds, however, go directly to Kennedy and impact student learning,” Putnam said.

Kennedy Community School serves students in preschool and grades kindergarten through eighth grade. Putnam said there are 840 students attending kindergarten through eighth grade.

“This year’s walkathon was a tremendous success thanks to the generosity of time, effort and money from our entire community,” Putnam said.

“Special thanks go to event co-chairs Sara Jorgenson, Melissa Granowski and PTA president Heidi Everett. All of the proceeds directly impact student learning and opportunities at Kennedy, and we are so grateful to our community for their support.”