 MTCES on Fox 19
ON Thursday, April 29th, FOX 19 visited MTCES and the science lab to check out the school's newest acquisition, a DNA Analyzer, donated to the school by Life Technologies. To view the report, click the following link: Watch the Video.
Moms make walkathon an MTCES family event
The women have spent every year of their time as MTCES parents running the walk-a-thon; Schellie founded the event in 2003, when her oldest child was in kindergarten, and Kris joined her a year later when her oldest enrolled in the first grade. Now, with their oldest daughters in the eighth grade, this long-running team could sleep-walk through the ninth walk-a-thon planning and preparation. But they don’t, as each year brings some change that improves process or increases the fun. Drawing upon her experience as a teacher at St. John’s, Schellie approached the PTO with the idea of holding the event. “The first year, we raised a ton of money and the kids loved it; we had four classes and we made two thousand dollars.” When Kris joined the effort in 2004, she brought innovations of her own. “I can’t take credit for it; I borrowed the idea from Cornerstone preschool. They had a mailer for sponsorships, and I thought what a great idea, because so many people don’t have extended family here.” Rather than making participation compulsory, the MTCES sponsorship is voluntary, and letters are only mailed to those names offered by our families. As a result “I think we get a better response with the mailing; it has skyrocketed.” The addresses solicited are not kept, but used only for this event.. The one thing that is mandatory is student participation. “Everyone walks, whether they get sponsors or not,” Kris explained. “It’s a great community building event---the whole school participates.” Including younger children; “One of the first years, we had our pre-school sons stamp the envelopes to give them something to do, and they started stamping the school floor,” Kris laughed. Participation of younger sibling is not limited to prep work; parents are welcome to bring future students to join their older siblings on the walk. The event is open to all ages, and is a great school community event. “Even the big kids like it; it is rare to have something that both the eighth graders and the kindergartners enjoy,” Schellie remarked. The use of bibs to track the laps is another innovation that came from the moms’ personal experience; their daughters did a walk in the fifth grade and they loved the bibs provided to track the laps. So the MTCES team began using bibs four years ago. The thermometers that reflect the pledges have been part of the walkathon since its inception. But the site on the grounds has changed over the years. “We used to fit on the upper parking lot,” Schellie remembered. “Then we moved to the back field, and then to the larger parking lot. We like it that the little kids can see the big kids, and the big kids can see the little kids.” Moving outdoors was a gamble; “Last year was the first time we had rain, and the first time we walked in the afternoon,” Schellie said. Morning showers gave way to afternoon sunshine, “I think God divinely intervenes for me each year. I just keep praying. I think Sister’s prayers are what make it a good day; it’s a great way to end the day and the week.” The MTCES Walk-a-thon accepts contributions, sponsorships and donations until the end of the school year, but only those received by Friday May 14th will count toward classroom goals and contests. |
When Schellie Scott and Kris Sikora tell the kids to “take a hike” on Friday, May 7th, it is not to get rid of them, but to get them involved in a great MTCES tradition --The ninth annual MTCES walkathon.