October 9, 2008

High Energy Fund Run starts off high-energy school year

Almaden Country School students are off to a running start this fall. Students completed the school’s annual Fund Run on Friday, Oct. 3 by running hundreds of combined laps with a goal of raising more than $28,500.

The Fund Run is an annual event at ACS, raising money for the school’s Parent Service Auxiliary. “The funds go directly to community building events for our families, classroom materials, Parent Education and off campus field trips,” said Melissa Fenton, the 2008 event co-chair with Karen Carter. Third grader Meaghan Schapelhouman created this year’s theme “All for One.” It was selected in a school-wide contest last spring.

6th grade Big Buddies and 1st grade Little Buddies run laps together at the Almaden Country School annual Fund Run. The rain held off and it was an energizing, fun filled day to launch into the autumn.

It is tradition at Almaden Country School for begindergarten through first graders to run laps with their Big Buddies. Each year, older students are assigned to younger students to work on special projects and attend school events together. The Fund Run is one of many occasions where you’ll see Big Buddies helping their Little Buddies. At the Fund the two run together with the older students offering encouragement as they circle the track, sometimes even giving the little ones a piggyback ride.

“I like seeing my Little Buddy’s excited face in the beginning and his tired face at the end,” said Scot McMaster, a sixth grader.

The Fund Run is preceded by Cougar Pride Days, where students engage in school-wide activities and show their school spirit by wearing class colors and participating in several theme days like crazy hair day. Each grade level also creates a banner and writes a cheer to showcase at the annual pep rally.

This year a new event was added to Cougar Pride Days as students welcomed a special person in their life to school. Students brought relatives, babysitters and even special teachers to a recognition lunch on campus.

“This year’s Fund Run was a high-energy, big-smiles event,” said Head of School and event co-emcee Dr. Ole Jorgenson. “Our children at every grade level gave 100 percent to support their school, and they were full of joy and laughter all day long! It’s an inspiring launch into the autumn. We love hearing our students tell their parents that school is fun!”

Almaden Country School is in its 27th year of discovering the gifts in every child. ACS is located at 6835 Trinidad Drive in San Jose. Phone (408) 997-0424. The school offers programs for students from 4 years of age through eighth grade. Its teaching philosophy is based on the knowledge that each child has unique capabilities and talents. ACS offers Personal Learning Plans for each student; a Character & Competence program for developing strong, ethical leaders; small class sizes; a broad and challenging curriculum; and passionate teachers who share a genuine love of children.