Stepping in time

Friday, September 9, 2022, TEAM Academy held its eleventh annual Walk-a-Thon, despite the day’s rainy weather. The event was a success, raising over $1,000 for new recess equipment for the school. 

Students collected donations from family and friends beginning on the first day of school September 6 until the day of the event, making the promise to participate for the full length of the Walk-a-Thon on Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, the hour-long walk was cut twenty minutes short as the rain got too heavy to stay outside. All teachers and staff at the school walked with the students to encourage them and promote active lifestyle choices.

In addition to helping the school, participants were eligible for individual awards. For every $5 the students raised, their name was placed on another ticket in a prize drawing. Throughout the length of the walk, names were called to announce prizes such as keychains, drawstring bags and t-shirts. The grand prize, awarded at the end of the event, was a brand-new bicycle. The 2022 winner of the bike drawing was Keeva R., a kindergartener. She will receive her bike soon – after one of the appropriate size is acquired. This is standard practice for the bike drawing, as TEAM Academy is a K-6 school and the winner could be any age.

The money raised each year goes toward fulfilling a wish list created by physical education teacher Jalea Priebe. Much of it goes to replace equipment which has worn out over the past year – such as balls that go flat or pop and cannot be repaired. There are often larger purchases as well. Last year, the school got new tetherball poles. This year Priebe hopes to install a “buddy bench,” a place where children who are looking for someone to play with during recess can meet.