George Fox Students Better The Community One Lap At A Time

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On October 4, George Fox Middle School students participated in the second annual Foxtrot to raise money for their school.

The Foxtrot is put on by the George Fox Parent Teacher Student Association to raise money in a way that holds the students accountable.

“Our students are doing fundraisers, and the parents are doing the fundraising, but this is truly one that the students own,” said Glenna Blessing, principal at George Fox. “They are the ones held accountable for walking those laps.”

Respecting the honor system, students ask for pledges per lap or a flat donation from their family or members of the community. The amount of money raised is reliant on the students advocating for their school.

The Foxtrot took place during students’ physical education or elective class period. Sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students were rotated, so each group had their own attention and time. PTSA volunteers were also there to cheer students on and hand out water bottles as students made their laps.

In its second year, the Foxtrot replaced the Race for Education, which had been held at George Fox in previous years.

“We wanted to brand the event with a school theme in order to further promote the ‘Fox spirit,’” explained Jim East, George Fox PTSA president.

Designed to be a health campaign, the event encouraged students to also exercise outside of their physical education classes.

Blessing said the focus is to promote healthy choices and encourage kids to embrace a lifestyle focused on wellness.

“They can run or walk,” Blessing said. “It really is based on making sure they feel confident and comfortable. It doesn’t require being competitive as an athlete. This is something that everybody can rally around.”

All of the money raised will go back to the school to support programs like Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), Literacy Night, Fox Family nights, additional supplies, and field trips.

George Fox hopes that students will make the decision to embrace wellness, and bring those ideas back home.

Blessing encourages students to bring these ideas into the community. If they encourage their families to take a walk, they are making a positive impact, and “that is something that everyone can do and be proud of,” said Blessing.

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