Successful Color Dash Run supports local educational programs by Jennifer Davis

Saturday morning, April 28, the community gathered for the Windham Primary School’s (WPS) third annual Color Dash. This year’s race welcomed 180 people, where families met and mingled with neighbors and teachers as they anxiously awaited the countdown to the start of the race.  
 

This year’s race wrapped around the school, through the woods, then meeting back on the WPS playground where participants ended their run by grabbing their packet of color – where about ten minutes later the air was filled with a rainbow of colors.

“Funds are being used to support teacher grants,” stated Michelle Jordan, Windham Primary School’s Volunteer Coordinator.  “This is a new initiative starting this year where teachers can request funds to support programs that help enhance student learning.”  By the turnout that crowded the WPS playground area, it was sure to be a successful event.

Jordan is part of the Principal Advisory Committee that organizes school wide fundraisers and events throughout the year. These events include: Smencils and Smens, scented pencils and pens that help support the technology in the classrooms and Scholastic Book Fairs fundraiser that supports the school library. Historically, a basket raffle along with the Color Dash have raised money for the playground, a new vision screening machine, smartboards, books and field trip scholarships.  

“Thank you to our volunteer coordinator, Michelle Jordan, and the staff and parents that helped make this a fun school community event,” stated Dr. Kyle Rhoads, WPS Principal.  “We are very fortunate to have such a supportive school and local community!”

If you are interested in donating to any of the school programs, donations can be sent directly the

Primary School. To ensure that your donation supports the program that you want, include a note specifying your donation request along with your donation.

Third annual color run produced enthusiasm and raised funds for school supplies by Jennifer Davis

It was a warm, fall sunny day on the well-maintained but very colorful soccer field at Raymond Elementary School (RES) on Sunday, September 24 as families and the community gathered together to run the third annual Color Run, a fundraising event to raise money for school supplies.
 

As participants migrated around the soccer field prior to running in the race, they were greeted by staff members of Raymond Elementary and many volunteers to include Kim Weeks, Mindy McKinney, Erin Simoneau, Beth Peavey, Austin Carr and many others.   

There was a silent auction with some amazing items donated by local businesses as part of the event as well.  Susan Brackett, a fourth-grade teacher at Raymond Elementary, was the organizer of this event and has been for the past three years.  “It’s a fun new way to raise money for the school and get students, teachers and the community together,” Brackett states.  “It also promotes wellness.”  

This year's run welcomed an anticipated 200 participants; many of which were students who not only ran and contributed to raise the necessary funds but also brought with them a lot of enthusiasm. “I’m excited about getting squirted,” stated Trevor, a fourth-grade student at RES. “I’m excited about the colors,” stated Leo, a Kindergartner at RES.  

This year’s color run began with the National Anthem, sung by the Raymond Elementary Chorus.  Participants then promptly took their places at 1 p.m.; runners at the front of the line and walkers at the end.  With a count down, the race began.  

Participants followed the perimeter of the soccer field, continuing down Frog Pond Trail where a group of volunteers waited with paint squirters in hand. The run continued around the playground.  

 “This is exciting as this is the first look many will have at the new playground that is currently under construction,” says Brackett.  “An example of what the funds from fundraisers such as this goes towards.” 

The run then wrapped back to the soccer field for the finish line. The top three finishers were; in first place, Garan Laszok, second place, Sean LeBel, and third place, Sydney Brackett.  

Once all participants crossed the finish line, everyone gathered in the middle of the soccer field for the final color throw.  

“My favorite part of the run is throwing the color packets,” states Silvia, first grader at Raymond Elementary.  With a countdown the colors flew marking the end of this year’s color run.

Although this year’s race is over, there is still opportunity to make donations to Raymond Elementary School.  Anyone interested in making a donation should contact Raymond Elementary School by phone at 655-8672 or by mail to 434 Webbs Mills Rd. Raymond

Manchester School has outstanding attendance at its first color run - By Michelle Libby

More than 200 runners and supporters of Manchester School turned out for the school’s first color run
last Sunday. The cold weather didn’t deter the runners from stripping down to their white shirts and pants to run the one or two mile trail around the school to be sprayed with liquid color and then be doused with powdered color.

“It was awesome. The kids were having a great time. I didn’t know who was having more fun, the kids or the adults,” said Jessica Weatherbee, Manchester School guidance counselor.

Fifth grade teacher Jessica Carle’s class was the organizer of the event, which they started planning in September. Weatherbee and Carle, both avid runners, decided that if the students were game, they would host a color run. 

“This is a great fundraiser,” said parent Wendy Gaulrapp. “I’d rather do this than buy wrapping paper.”

The event raised close to $3,500 between registrations and concessions. There were also raffles donated by local businesses. 

“We were blown away by the participation and support from the community,” Weatherbee said.

The best part for Shiba Haddadi and Brooklynn Hennigar were throwing the color and getting some exercise, both were running the two mile option. 

Fourth-grader Jacob Lord, broke his shoulder the day before the race. He cried, but not because he broke his bone, but because he didn’t want to miss the race, said his mom, Stephanie Smith. Other students agreed that they couldn’t miss the event. Athena Nicholas walked the race with her sister Demi and her mom, Erin. They brought sunglasses to protect their eyes from the color. There were there to have fun.

“I was blown away by the turn out,” said principal Danielle Donnini. “There were lessons learned.” The class will go back and assess how things went and what could have been done better, she added. Asked if the school will do another color run, she said it was up to the classes next year, if they want to take it on for Community Day. 

The check for the total amount will be donated to Manchester School on Community Day, which was held this past Wednesday, to be used for various projects like the gardens, supplies for teachers, said Carle. The 24 kids in the class wanted to make sure that their fundraiser would help the school. 

If you missed this color run, Windham Primary School will host a color run on Saturday, April 30 at 9:30 a.m. Register for that race at www.wpscolorrun.eventbrite.com.  

Kindness Week at Manchester School ends with a celebration and a dash of color - By Michelle Libby

Last Friday over 400 students at Manchester School in Windham celebrated kindness at an assembly featuring skits, speeches and the introduction of a color run to take place in the spring. 

“The best part was last year fourth grade students approached Mrs. Weatherbee to start an anti-bullying club,” said principal Danielle Donnini. The team worked to create the name Team Kindness and met at lunch recess to plan activities. The group consists of approximately 30 fourth and fifth graders. 

 “It has evolved from September into today,” said guidance counselor Jessica Weatherbee. “One little idea can turn into something this huge,” she told the audience of fourth and fifth graders. 

On Friday, some of the team put on kindness skits showing how to be nice to someone who gets tripped or drops their books. 

The whole week was dedicated to doing something to help others. “They want to expand kindness throughout the whole school,” said Weatherbee. “We want to create a culture of kindness in the building.”

The whole school, led by the chorus, sang a kindness song about “reach out your kind-hearted hand.” All of it part of The Great Kindness Challenge, an online program that encourages schools to devote one week to performing as many acts of kindness as possible, choosing from a 50 item checklist. The items vary from smile at 25 people to walk a dog or cat. 

 

The school also held a door contest on way to show kindness. Many of the classrooms had interactive doors that had quotes and special touches to show and give suggestions on ways to be kind. One door was made to look like an iPhone with apps for kindness, for example Kindness Watchers (Weight Watchers), Teamwork, KindFlix (Netflix), FriendBook and InstaKind. 

Student Adrianna Libby said her favorite app was Stand up. “It’s about standing up for yourself.”

Donnini declared that everyone won the contest because it’s all about kindness and everyone wins when it comes to kindness. 

Donnini quoted Ellen DeGeneres, “I just think that kindness is something we should all have…We need more of that out there.” 

“This week reminded us just a little bit about how we want to be,” said Weatherbee. During the week the students were asked to bring in a food item for the Windham Food Pantry for the privilege of breaking dress code and wearing a hat in school. With a two day notice the school rallied and brought in 283 items to donate. 

The also held themed dress up days like “tied together with kindness” where kids wore curly ribbon and bow or neck ties, “crazy for kindness” where they wore mismatched clothes and the “dreaming of kindness” where the students wore pajamas. 

The students made iMovie videos about what kindness means to them and they continued talk about “creating a chain reaction,” which they learned about in Rachel’s Challenge. 

The Kindness Team has been meeting twice a month and according to Weatherbee, “the students are teaching and guiding me” about what they want to accomplish. 

“I’ve seen so much kindness and I know this is going to continue,” said vice principal Kristal Vargo-Ward. 

Weatherbee also announced that Mrs. Carle’s class will be organizing a color run as their Community Day project. Manchester hosts a community day every year to celebrate each class doing a year-long project to benefit something in the community. The color run will be a one or two mile, untimed race. Weatherbee, Vargo-Ward and gifted and talented teacher Jennifer Breton volunteered to demonstrate how the color run would work, with students tossing a colored chalk-like substance on their white shirts creating a colorful art piece. The color run is scheduled for April 10^th.