CATO - To help raise money for those affected by Hurricane Katrina, Cato-Meridian Elementary School students are walking 1,378.2 miles to New Orleans.
A group of students raced around the Cato Community Center's indoor track singing the words to Fats Domino's ”Walking to New Orleans.“ For every lap they walked, a group of sponsors donated a certain amount of money.
In an effort to help raise money to aid the thousands of residents left homeless, as well as raise awareness among her students, elementary school principal Ann Marie Dillon launched the walking campaign early in October. So far, the students have walked a little more than 690 miles.
”It is taking a little longer than we thought, but all of the students are still into it,“ said Jen Crook, K-4 physical education teacher.
At the beginning of each class, Crook goes over the giant map of the United States that hangs over the gym. A thermometer connects Cato to New Orleans, and after each class, Crook fills it in with a marker. When Crook asks her students why they are walking, hands shoot up all over the gym.
”They know why they are here and what they are doing,“ Crook said.
The campaign incorporates math, geography and lessons about culture.
Lessons span from the physical education classroom where students track their miles around the track, to the music room where they learn about jazz and the other sounds of New Orleans.
When Dillon walks into a third-grade classroom and asks the students to sing the Louisiana state song, there is no hesitation as they begin to sing ”You Are My Sunshine.“
”We are trying to preserve some of the culture that makes New Orleans so famous,“ Dillon said.
”Being able to sing ‘You Are My Sunshine' and ‘When the Saints Go Marching In,' it makes the time go by a little faster.“
The Walking to New Orleans Campaign also fulfills a number of New York state requirements. Students are not only brushing up on their skills for this year's state math exam, but are also participating in Gov. George E. Pataki's ”Activ8Kids!“ campaign. ”Activ8Kids!“ is an attempt to promote healthy eating and exercise habits among students of all ages.
Dillon says the most important aspect of the campaign is that it teaches children about caring and how to help out in a time of crisis.
Students were asked to collect their own sponsors and even students who couldn't get anywere asked to still participate in the event.
While students are learning how to manage money and organize their time, it is more important that they know why they are walking, Dillon said.
”The students are learning to respect other people and life itself,“ Dillon said.
”They are also learning the difference between what they want and what they really need.“
Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or ashley.lipsky@lee.net.
In an effort to help raise money to aid the thousands of residents left homeless, as well as raise awareness among her students, elementary school principal Ann Marie Dillon launched the walking campaign early in October. So far, the students have walked a little more than 690 miles.
”It is taking a little longer than we thought, but all of the students are still into it,“ said Jen Crook, K-4 physical education teacher.
At the beginning of each class, Crook goes over the giant map of the United States that hangs over the gym. A thermometer connects Cato to New Orleans, and after each class, Crook fills it in with a marker. When Crook asks her students why they are walking, hands shoot up all over the gym.
”They know why they are here and what they are doing,“ Crook said.
The campaign incorporates math, geography and lessons about culture.
Lessons span from the physical education classroom where students track their miles around the track, to the music room where they learn about jazz and the other sounds of New Orleans.
When Dillon walks into a third-grade classroom and asks the students to sing the Louisiana state song, there is no hesitation as they begin to sing ”You Are My Sunshine.“
”We are trying to preserve some of the culture that makes New Orleans so famous,“ Dillon said.
”Being able to sing ‘You Are My Sunshine' and ‘When the Saints Go Marching In,' it makes the time go by a little faster.“
The Walking to New Orleans Campaign also fulfills a number of New York state requirements. Students are not only brushing up on their skills for this year's state math exam, but are also participating in Gov. George E. Pataki's ”Activ8Kids!“ campaign. ”Activ8Kids!“ is an attempt to promote healthy eating and exercise habits among students of all ages.
Dillon says the most important aspect of the campaign is that it teaches children about caring and how to help out in a time of crisis.
Students were asked to collect their own sponsors and even students who couldn't get anywere asked to still participate in the event.
While students are learning how to manage money and organize their time, it is more important that they know why they are walking, Dillon said.
”The students are learning to respect other people and life itself,“ Dillon said.
”They are also learning the difference between what they want and what they really need.“
Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or ashley.lipsky@lee.net.
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