Rosalia youth surpass goal for March of Dimes

Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter | May 10, 20180

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The Rosalia School District raised $3,285.57 to benefit the March of Dimes during Trot for Tots at the school grounds April 27.

“I think there is a good lesson to learn, that life’s not all about you,” said Jennifer Olson, teacher who is over the high school leadership class that runs the event.

This is the fifth year the school has hosted the event with students collecting pledges and sponsorships from family and the surrounding community. The goal was set at $2,700 which is what was raised last year.

“This year we blew that out of the water,” Olson said.

As part of its curriculum, the leadership class has to do one school-wide charitable fundraiser. For the past five years, that has been the Trot for Tots for the March of Dimes. The week before the event, the school holds an assembly to kick it off and explain what March of Dimes does. The students collect their pledges which can be one lump sum or based on the number of laps done during the event. They had daily drawings for those who had brought their money and to build excitement. Olson noted the elementary teachers help their students understand March of Dimes as best as their young minds can.

The course for the event is set around the school and on the grounds.

Jacob Harp, left, and Isaac Leighton make their way through the inflatable obstacle course at the Trot for Tots at Rosalia school.

“It has various activities they can do along the way,” Olson noted. These extra games included an inflatable obstacle course, dunk tank, giant Connect Four game, ladder toss and corn hole.

As part of their project, the leadership collected donations from businesses to support the individual games and overall event including individual prizes and shirts. Supporting businesses this year were Pat’s Books, Rosalia Education Association, Empire Pest Control, Western Insurance Associates, PNW, Rosalia PSE, Pinewood Cottage, Inland Northwest Band, Budding Rose Art Gallery, Balloon Biz and Smith County Store.

The kindergarten and first grade classes line up at the starting line, set to begin laps to raise money for the March of Dimes

While the kids have fun, Olson thinks the students also see the greater purpose they are supporting.

A week after the event the school hosts a wrap-up assembly with pictures and awards for most laps walked and most donations collected. Most laps walked honors went to Seth Rerecich for the elementary level with 20 laps; Morgan Martin, Joey Murray and Koa Razo for the middle school level with 23 laps each, and Cameron Atchison for the high school level with 22 laps.

Students who raised the most donations were Briley Smith from the elementary with $250, Camie Bothman from the middle school with $135, Zach Saens from the high school with $40 and seventh grader Anna Pittman collected the highest total overall with $420.

Each year the leadership class decides what they will do for the charitable fundraiser. One challenge is for them is to keep things from getting stale. Olson noted the seniors challenge themselves to make the event better, more engaging and bring in more donations than the last year.