What is fun, raises money for the school PTSO, and gives students a chance to exercise? The Fun Run! We all went to the Fun Run fundraiser last week, but does everyone know what it was for?
According to Mr. Fester, Vice Principal of Park Forest Middle School, “The Fun Run is a fundraiser for the PFMS PTSO.” The PTSO, Parent Teacher Student Organization, needs money so teachers can buy fun and essential things for their classes. “The money will go towards their general budget to ultimately give back to the teachers and students at the school,” Mr. Fester said. “In the past, the PTSO has helped to purchase books for the school, fund field trips, and provide money to our ROAR program.”
PTSO also funds things that will directly benefit YOU. Soon, the school will buy lots of lollipops to sell to students to fund ROAR ticket prizes. Also, the donations from the Fun Run will go toward many clubs and AREAs, such as TSA, which uses the money they get from PTSO to support students attending competitions. So, in summary, the school has a Fun Run fundraiser each year to raise money for fun items teachers and students will enjoy.
Why are we having this Fun Run? Mainly because the Fun Run is, well, fun! According to Mr. Fester, it is the “perfect blend of many elements that we love at PFMS.” He said that it gives the PTSO a chance to collect money from a fundraiser but it also gives everyone a chance to exercise. This is good because, since students have to sit through a seven hour school day, some exercise could definitely prove useful. Plus, we tried a type of exercise used in the military - running with five pound backpacks. With only two minutes between classes at PFMS, this exercise could definitely come in handy! We did this because Penn State’s ROTC, or Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, came to help with our Fun Run.
Even though the Fun Run is over, if you want to donate to the PTSO now, you still can. In fact, you can any time of the year! Just write a check made out to PFMS PSTO and bring it to the main office.
The Fun Run helps to fund fun and important things for students and staff, and gives us a chance to exercise. Mr. Fester said it best: “It provides an opportunity for all of us to gather socially for a common goal.”