Nearly 500 students, teachers and parents took part in Mountain View Elementary School's third annual "Laps for Learning" student jog-a-thon on May 2.
The event raised much-needed funds for an updated "state-of-the-art" library at the school, which is located in Tujunga, and promoted physical fitness at the same time.
By start time, over $7,500 in pledges had been sent in (making the three-year project total $30,000), and event co-organizer
Erin Padilla was confident that the total would be higher once that day's pledges were tallied.
"With this money, we can finally get started on our library upgrade," she said, "maybe as soon as this summer."
School Librarian
Kim Weaver is excited about the changes planned for "her" library, which include new carpeting, child-friendly tables and shelves, more space and more books.
The walls of an adjoining storage room will be knocked out to enlarge the library's capacity, and in phase two, an unused office will be opened up and used as a computer room. Currently, the library has four computers, but because of space limitations, only one is being used.
The jog-a-thon began at 8:30 a.m. when two grades assembled at several stations around the playground's mini-track.
At a signal, lively music began playing over the loud speaker and the joggers took off.
Weaver, Padilla, Principal
Beth Harker, event coordinator
Sandra Mahoney, as well as
Denise Shane and
Andrea Tuukanen set fine examples - as well as a brisk pace - as they circled the track and earned dollars.
As joggers rounded the 1/16 th-mile track to their starting places, volunteers with felt pens marked laps on special cards on the student's wrists.
It was calculated that 40 laps were "possible" during the 30-minute jog. I talked to two enthusiastic fifth-grade cousins -
Arthur and
Archie - who vowed to run 40 or maybe even 45 laps!
Kids walked, ran or sprinted around the track, their faces soon shining with perspiration as the morning warmed. PTA President
Sue Thornton stood ready with a spray bottle to mist the runners with cool water as they passed.
When the music stopped, the participants lined up under a shade screen to receive water bottles, energy bars, neck totes and other goodies, while the next set began assembling on the track.
At the end of the day, laps and pledges would be counted and winners chosen. Prizes included being "Principal for a Day," a "Lunch & Limo Party," free dance lessons and a sporting goods shopping spree.
Mountain View is grateful to the sponsors of the jog-a-thon who donated the supplies and many of the prizes - Trader Joe's, Albertsons, Vons, Revolution Dance Center, Sports Chalet and Night Life Limousine.
And the school is proud of all those who ran, jogged, walked and collected pledges. Way to go!
For more information about Mountain View Elementary School (a California Distinguished School), visit
www.MountainViewKids.com.