Walkathon Frequently Asked Questions

By now your child has  brought home a Walkathon sponsor sheet (we hope!) and you've heard about the RHS Walkathon. This is the school's second largest fundraiser of the year, and a huge source of pride for the children. Parent volunteers make it happen (that's where you come in). A volunteer sign-up  board will be in the RHS lobby starting the week of April 14, 2008, or you can contact your room parent to volunteer for a shift or duty.

Below we've answered  several Frequently Asked Questions you may have if this is your first year  at RHS. If you have any other questions contact Megan Tracey at  Traceym@surgery.ucsf.edu.

What are the collection/button days?   From the first Friday in April and each Friday  until the Walkathon Assembly, parent volunteers collect sponsor money and hand out buttons. Buttons are awarded when a child (i) gets  his/her first sponsor, (ii) gets his/her first ten sponsors and (iii)  fills his/her sponsor sheet.

Money turned in between Collection Days is counted and credited to that student on the next Collection Day IF it is properly identified (student name and teacher name) when turned in.

What are the prizes and how do children win them?   Individual prizes are awarded at an awards assembly based on funds raised. Every child who raises at least $100  will get a prize from that category. If a child raises more, s/he will  also get a prize in the larger dollar category. Kids see the  prizes during the Kick-Off Assembly. Individual prizes for 2008  are as follows:

$100 Koosh Ball  $200 National Geographic Kids Binoculars 300 Punch Paddles  $400 Monster Mini Rocket Game  $500 Motorola Talkabout 2-way Walkie-Talkie radios  $600 RHS Beach Towel  $700 RHS Beach Towel and Binoculars  $800 Shake MP3 Player  $900 Shake MP3 Player and Binoculars

  Also, at each class level, the girl and boy who raise the most money, and the girl and boy who walk the farthest receive a medal. School-wide, the boy and girl  who raise the most money, and the boy and girl who walk the  farthest receive a trophy.  

Are there class prizes, too? Yes, the The K-2 class and the 3-5 class that raise the most money (proportionately) by deadline (11 am on May 22) will each win a pizza party. Also, the class with the highest percentage of participation will win an  ice cream party.  

What if my child didn't bring a sponsor sheet home?    Check with your child's teacher to see if s/he has any extras, or try  the RHS Office. If they are out of extras, contact Lauren Haughey at  lauren_haughey@yahoo.com. We have a limited number of sponsor sheets so  please do your best to keep track of these once you have one. 

What is the last day to turn in money?  Every child should bring in their sponsor sheet with all collected money by Friday, May 2, so at the Walkathon we have a good sense of what's been raised, and how much is still owed. Important: Those who have outstanding/unpaid pledges are given back one copy of their sponsor sheet to continue collecting. To receive prizes, the last day to turn in money is May 22. Turning in money each Friday makes it easier to track collections, so please have your child turn in their money weekly. Parent volunteers collect money and award buttons every Friday.

How far is the route, and where will the children be walking? The route is approximately 1 kilometer.   The walk begins in front of the teachers' parking lot (at Reinhardt). From there the route goes  up the hill on 39th Avenue, right at Selkirk, left at Dunsmuir, right  onto Monterey, right onto Atlas, right on Young, and through the gate at  the dead end of Young that leads to the Rec Center Field. The route  continues along the path bordering the Rec Center field, along Aliso and right on 39th Avenue (along the RHS fence) back to the start.

How far is my kindergartener expected to walk?   There are distance goals for each grade. The kindergarten goal is 8 kilometers or 8 times around the route. Of course, this is a goal, and  each child is encouraged to go only as far as s/he is able. 

What are the distance goals for the higher grades?   1st Grade: 10K; 2nd Grade: 12K; 3rd Grade: 14K; 4th Grade: 16K; 5th Grade: 18K.  

What if my child has a disability?   An alternate route will also be available within the schoolyard.  

What time does the Walkathon start?   Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. Walking starts at 10 a.m.  

Where do I register my child?   The registration booth will be located at near the starting point at the  teachers parking lot. You can also drop off your popsicles at that time.  

May I walk with my child? Yes!  

What do I need to bring?    Please bring a water bottle for your child, sunscreen, a box of  popsicles and some money if you want to buy lunch or BBQ tickets.  Chairs and blankets for the BBQ are also a good idea.

Are permission slips required?   Yes, your child must have a signed permission slip to participate. They'll be sent in the Monday Memo. Send in the permission slip to the collection volunteers on Fridays, or turn it in at the registration  table. No child will be allowed to walk without a permission slip. If your child doesn't bring one home, please pick one up in the RHS office.

  Will food or drinks be available?   Yes, 8 stations on the route (manned by parent volunteers) will provide  water, and there will be popsicles, fruit, and sandwiches (pb&j and  cheese) at the starting point station. In addition,  pizza slices, jamba juice smoothies and water will be sold in the  cafeteria starting at 11:30.

There is a BBQ?   Yes! From 4 pm to whenever! . Tickets are $5 a person. The Dads cook  up hamburgers and hot dogs. The Neighborhood Association provides a live  band.  

Where are the bathrooms along the route?   The bathrooms in the RHS building and the Rec Center will be open.   

Sounds like a lot of work, how can I help?    Volunteers are needed to help with set-up, breakdown, check-in/check-out,  water stations, running the route, selling pizza and more. Visit the  volunteer board in the lobby, sign up for something, and let's work together to make this fundraiser a huge success.