Blackrock Students Raise More Than $5K for PTA Activities

Blackrock Elementary students from Pre-K through fifth grade, along with teachers and parents walked more than 100 total miles around the school's 1/8-mile asphalt track on Thursday for a good cause.

The occasion was the Fifth Annual Buzz-A-Thon, a fund-raising event (named after the school's bumblebee mascot) during which students in grades Pre-K through two walk 20 minutes around the track and grades three through five walk 30 minutes while wearing their Buzz-A-Thon t-shirts in varying colors depending on grade level.

The event was started to replace the typical candy, candle or cookie dough sales done in the past. Students get pledges from family members and friends beginning about two weeks before the event to support the Blackrock PTA.

"There's no overhead with the Buzz-A-Thon like there is with the sale expensive candles and things like that," said Principal Alicia Castle. "So all of the money that the kids raise goes directly to the school."

Despite falling short this year of the school's $9,000 goal, the $$5,200 that was raised will still be a huge help when it comes to planning PTA-sponsored activities. 

"We use the money to hold multiple cultural arts events and things like the Ladies' Choice Dance, Boys' Night Out and the Safety Patrol field trip," said Blackrock PTA President, Jill Amerigo. "Because we didn't meet our goal, we may have to cut back on one event, but the kids still love participating in it, being able to get outside for a while during the school day and show school spirit."

"The kids are really enthusiastic about doing the Buzz-A-Thon and I was pleasantly surprised with the parent turnout this year," said Castle. "Even though we didn't meet our goal this time, I'm so grateful that people donated as much as they did considering the hard economic times that we're currently in. The most important part is that the kids have fun and get active at a young age."