CONGRATULATIONS, MUSTANGS…YOU DID IT!

This Friday…

Wear your Mini-Marathon shirt or “Finish Strong” shirt and toe-tokens! Top pledge earners and prizes will be announced at the assembly! Prizes will be distributed to students who earned $50+, $75+, or $100+ in pledges! Goodie bags and t-shirts will go home to REGISTERED students who missed the Finish Line Event.

Did you read about the Finish Line Event in the Farmington Observer? If not, use the following link to visit hometownlife.com:

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/NEWS06/809250459/1023

Want to see pictures of the event? Visit www.gillpta.com and click on the MMM link.

Thank you for your support!

Gill PTA

From an article in the Farmington Observer & Eccentric…thanks Lynda!!!

Students at Gill Elementary in the Farmington Public School District crossed the finish line of their 26.2 mile mini-marathon on Saturday.

The event, called the Mustang Mini-Marathon, began in June when all students logged the first half-mile together then continued to log – both on their own and at weekly training runs throughout the summer – an additional 24.5 miles.

They ran, walked or wheeled the last 1.2 miles together on Saturday at the program’s Finish Line Event. The effort concluded the summer-long fund-raiser for the 2008-2009 school year as the students earned money for their school by collecting pledges for logged miles from family members and friends.

In a short program preceding the closing run, the students and spectators counted to three as a cloth was pulled revealing an over-filled thermometer representing record-setting proceeds Ð more than $15,000 Ð that had been raised by the kids.

Thundersticks crashed, cowbells clanked, and parents and fans cheered as the students completed their final mile. The smiles were contagious as each child crossed the finish line and was adorned with a medal.

“I was excited to cross the finish line,” said Gill Elementary fifth grader Justin Honer. “I felt happy because I had finally finished my marathon and I raised money for my school.”

When asked what was next for her after completing the mini-marathon, third grader Allison Wrublewski replied, “I think I’m going to keep running. I want to do more. I liked running with my friends. We talk while we run.”

Throughout the summer, students and their families met at the Power Middle School track to log miles, socialize, and train for the Finish Line Event.

“The Mustang Mini-Marathon changed the nature of our summer,” said Gill parent Marianne Rinker, whose daughter Sarah, a second-grader, completed her final 1.2 miles on Saturday. “All summer long after breakfast and before the pool, we’d get our mile in.”

Saturday’s Finish Line Event was held outside between Gill Elementary and Power Middle Schools. The event was staffed with volunteers from area Kohl’s Department stores, trainers from Life Time Fitness, members of the Farmington High School boy’s and girl’s cross-country teams, Gill staff, and a host of parents.

“Seeing the school principal and vice principal supporting this effort, all the parents that were helping out, the sponsor banners, the teachers dancing with the kidsÉ,” said Lanee Blaise, as she reflected on the day, “I have never felt as much a part of a community as I do now.”

Blaise’s daughter, Kayla, is a third grader at Gill.

“Even before we realized we had met our fund-raising goal we felt this effort had been an immense success,” said Gill Principal Mark Morawski.

“I’m hearing new stories every day on how a child, and in most cases his or her family, has changed their habits to include some sort of fitness routine.”

Gold-Level sponsors of the Mustang Mini-Marathon were New Balance of Farmington Hills, Saturn of Farmington Hills, Life Time Fitness of Novi, and Kohl’s Department Stores through their “Kohl’s Cares for Kids” program.

Funds raised by the Gill PTA will pay for field trip transportation, special school assemblies, enrichment programs and teacher grants.

Check out the online albums we have so far…

• http://gallery.mac.com/droggenk#100032> — Thanks to David Roggenkamp
• http://picasaweb.google.com/gregstewart2005/MMMFinishLineEvent#

It’s not too late to collect and turn in those pledges!  Just be sure they’re in on or before Saturday, September 20th, and your child will be eligible for all of our cool fundraiser prizes.  If your kids haven’t completed your miles, that’s O.K.  We trust that you will encourage them to finish what they started.  As long as they are registered for the Mustang Mini-Marathon, they are welcome to participate on September 20th and will get their goodie bag, event t-shirt, and finish line medal.  Thanks for your support and remember…the money we raise goes directly to benefit our children at Gill through enrichment programs, field trip transportation, special assemblies, classroom supplies, etc.  So you can fill great about supporting this fundraiser with your 100% tax deductible collected pledges, direct donations, and entries in our silent auction on the 20th.  THANK YOU!

Fighting Childhood Obesity flyer

ATTENTION GILL FAMILIES…WEDNESDAY, SEPT 3 RUN CANCELLED DUE THUNDERSTORM