They didn't care that the temperature was already over the 80-degree mark when they took to the track at 10:30 a.m. Friday; the Farmington Road Runners were just ready to go.
And go they did, taking part in the school's annual Jog-a-Thon to raise money for student field trips. In the past, the event has come closer to the end of the school year, but Farmington Principal Bob Amato said the decision was made to have it earlier this year.
"We wanted to do it when everyone was fresh," he said, adding that getting a jumpstart on fundraising for school trips this year also was a factor.
Students gathered pledges, some by the lap but most at a flat rate, for their hour spent walking, jogging, running or skipping around the makeshift track at Farmington Elementary.
All students, from the youngest kindergarten children to the 'upperclassmen' fifth graders, took part, earning cash for their school.
"We'd love to raise $10 or $15 per student, that would be wonderful," Amato said, noting that regardless of the final total, the day was a good one.
"Kids are getting exercise, they are working hard, they are having a great day together," he pointed out.
About 150 students are enrolled at the rural school, with the fundraiser hopefully bringing in about $1,500 to help finance school field trips.
"There are medals for the most laps at each grade level, and a gift certificate from Barnes & Noble for the most pledge money brought in," Amato said of individual honors.
"Also, the class with the most pledge money per student gets a pizza party."
Amato said though temperatures on Friday soared higher than everyone would have liked, students, staff and parent volunteers had plenty of water at the ready and could slow their pace down if they got too tired or hot.
The principal also said the last couple of weeks leading up to the event were fun.
"There's been a lot of trash talking about who's going to win," he said, grinning. "Mostly egged on by me."
Many parents and other relatives also turned out to support the students all around the track.
"Another lap, another lap, make grandma proud," a voice wafted from across the field during the event, one spectator cheering on her favorite student.
Amato acknowledged all the support, from those that were punching the holes in the student nametags to keep track of their laps to those that donated money for the laps they completed.
"We couldn't do it without the great volunteers, the parent support and the staff here," Amato said. "Every day here at Farmington, there's someone doing something for our students and this is just a great example of it."
And go they did, taking part in the school's annual Jog-a-Thon to raise money for student field trips. In the past, the event has come closer to the end of the school year, but Farmington Principal Bob Amato said the decision was made to have it earlier this year.
"We wanted to do it when everyone was fresh," he said, adding that getting a jumpstart on fundraising for school trips this year also was a factor.
Students gathered pledges, some by the lap but most at a flat rate, for their hour spent walking, jogging, running or skipping around the makeshift track at Farmington Elementary.
All students, from the youngest kindergarten children to the 'upperclassmen' fifth graders, took part, earning cash for their school.
"We'd love to raise $10 or $15 per student, that would be wonderful," Amato said, noting that regardless of the final total, the day was a good one.
"Kids are getting exercise, they are working hard, they are having a great day together," he pointed out.
About 150 students are enrolled at the rural school, with the fundraiser hopefully bringing in about $1,500 to help finance school field trips.
"There are medals for the most laps at each grade level, and a gift certificate from Barnes & Noble for the most pledge money brought in," Amato said of individual honors.
"Also, the class with the most pledge money per student gets a pizza party."
Amato said though temperatures on Friday soared higher than everyone would have liked, students, staff and parent volunteers had plenty of water at the ready and could slow their pace down if they got too tired or hot.
The principal also said the last couple of weeks leading up to the event were fun.
"There's been a lot of trash talking about who's going to win," he said, grinning. "Mostly egged on by me."
Many parents and other relatives also turned out to support the students all around the track.
"Another lap, another lap, make grandma proud," a voice wafted from across the field during the event, one spectator cheering on her favorite student.
Amato acknowledged all the support, from those that were punching the holes in the student nametags to keep track of their laps to those that donated money for the laps they completed.
"We couldn't do it without the great volunteers, the parent support and the staff here," Amato said. "Every day here at Farmington, there's someone doing something for our students and this is just a great example of it."
