Slater focusing on fun Slater focusing on fun (October 21, 2005)

Walkathon the first of many big events in school's final year

By Molly Tanenbaum

"Hurry up!" one second grader in an orange T-shirt called to another. They ran to join the rainbow of Slater students on the field, clapping in the sun to Queen's "We Will Rock You" and barely containing their excitement for the big event of Oct. 14: the Slater Walkathon.

"Our goal was to make this year the most fun instead of making the most money since it's our last year," said Liza Levin, Slater PTA co-president and walkathon chair.

This year's walkathon included lap prizes, a raffle, games, snacks and rubber bracelets for Slater's 50th birthday, which the elementary school celebrates this year. Levin and other moms wore large, felt poodle skirts in honor of the event's theme: the '50s.

As preschoolers through fifth graders circled the field and earned marks on their punch cards for each lap, high-energy songs such as "Eye of the Tiger" blared in the background. Parents and teachers walked alongside the kids, who were sprayed with water to cool down after each lap.

With the help of 130 parent volunteers, the walkathon this year brought in $12,000 for Slater's PTA -- funding that will pay for field trips and assemblies for the students.

Before Slater closes this spring, PTA parents plan to spend down their funds with increased activities, Levin said.

"My job is to make the most of this year," she said. "We try to do events that are really community-building and talk about how great the school is so [students] can bring these things to their new schools."

Levin and other parents dedicated a total of 9,000 hours last year to fighting the school closure, one-third of the required total PACT (Parent, Child, Teacher program) volunteer hours, according to PACT dad Chris Kuszmaul, who walked laps with his second grader, Jane.

But now, he said, it's time to move on.

"If you've had a good crying fit, you feel better and it's time to get on with life."

While still sad that Slater will close, Kuzmaul is relieved to be focusing his energy back on his kids and classroom volunteer time.

His new motto, he says, is "More reading, less pleading."

Principal Nicki Smith is working with parents and teachers this fall to prepare for Slater's transition. Plans include creating a timeline of Slater's history, celebrating Slater's 50th as well as PACT's 10th birthday this year, and thinking about how to move into the future and allow current Slater students to bring elements from there to their new schools next fall. Current ideas include having each student to select a favorite book, which will then be sent to his or her future school's library for the following year.

"The bottom line is the kids. We want [the transition] to be as positive as we can and we want them to feel supported," Smith said.

E-mail Molly Tanenbaum at mtanenbaum@mv-voice.com

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