School News

Meadowdale Middle School fundraiser a success

Seventh and eighth graders from Meadowdale Middle School run laps during the schools annual Viking Run fundraiser. This year, students and staff raised almost $11,000

By Sara Bruestle

The Beacon

Avery promised the seventh and eighth graders at MMS that shed let special-education teacher Tamara Musser dress her in a wild Dolce & Gabbana dress and four-inch heels if they raised $15,000 with the schools annual Viking Run fundraiser.

MMS students and staff didnt meet their goal of $15,000, but they still raised almost $11,000 this year in a down economy and with 90 fewer students.

Itll be boring suits and sensible shoes for Avery. But thats OK.

[It was] a great success, she said. I thought we would be lucky to achieve $10,000 so I am very pleased with $11,000.

Students and staff from MMS spent about an hour on Oct. 8 running laps around the schools field to support the ASB. They received about $10,600 in pledges from their families and friends for the laps they ran.

Its amazing to see the giving power of the Meadowdale community, said Mike Kendrick, MMS world history teacher.

The Viking Run is the schools largest fundraiser of the year. In the past, MMS has earned $9,000 to $14,000 with the run.

The $10,600 will go toward ASB-funded programs, including dances, assemblies, field trips, clubs, sports, music and other extracurricular activities.

ASB funds are absolutely essential to create a sense of school community for our students that hosts pro-social activities that keep our students busy and safe after school, Avery said.

The Viking Run used to be a Parent Club fundraiser but was sponsored by the schools ASB this year to put the runs full focus on ASB-funded programs. The schools Parent Club volunteers and fundraises in support of MMS students and staff.

It brings in usually over 3/4 of our operation budget for our student ASB, Kendrick said of the fundraiser. Without these funds, our budget for student activities, clubs and sports would be severely slashed and or eliminated.

The top three classrooms with the most laps ran during the Viking Run fundraiser were Mr. Kendricks seventh-grade class, Mr. Lavens eighth-grade class and Mr. Howards combined class. The top three students with the most laps ran were Chris Flynn, Atty McLellan and Amanda Tomchick.

Our students and staff did a great job this year lots of participation, said Assistant Principal Joe Webster.

Avery wasnt the only one with a bargain for students. Webster had promised the school he would spend the night on the schools roof if students and staff met their fundraising goal.

Every year classes challenge each other to see which class can collect the most pledges to get everyone motivated and excited for the fundraiser. The losing classed must then settle their bets during an assembly.

The bets are usually a pie in the face, silly song or dance, goofy costumes that sort of thing, said Steve Howard, MMS science teacher. Other classes challenge each other to a pizza party, etc.

One year, Avery and Webster wore Teletubby costumes as a bargain for the student body.

Avery is crossing her fingers for her next Viking Run bargain with the seventh and eighth graders of MMS.

Im kind of bummed about not being able to wear Tamaras clothes, Avery said. As wild as they are, they are truly exquisite.