Spring Fun Run

On the tail-end of Teacher’s Appreciation Week, the Elementary Physical Education teachers of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District invited all elementary students to participate in the Spring Fun Run at Iron Horse Middle School. The kindergarteners through third graders ran a half mile race, and fourth and fifth graders ran a mile race.

The coaches throughout SRVUSD collaborated for months in preparation to deliver the Spring Fun Run as an effort to showcase the abilities and teamwork developed throughout the year at each elementary school. Dwight Pratt, a teacher on special assignment in SRVUSD shares, “We had a couple of goals. Our motto for physical education is to help students learn the skills necessary for performing a variety of physical activities and understand the benefits of achieving and maintaining a physically active lifestyle. We wanted to share this while creating a free event where no parent involvement was necessary. It was orchestrated entirely by our elementary PE teachers for the families in our district.”

While parent volunteers are usually encouraged, this Spring Fun Run was an opportunity for the families to relax. The coaches recognize parents often rush to sports and tutoring after school. This was their chance to sit back and enjoy watching the kids be successful. In addition to enjoying the camaraderie, everyone was able to appreciate the value of physical education. There is hope that a strong sense of community will rally support for physical education, also art and music, making these programs readily available for students.

The students were blended by grade level, not school. The intent being to encourage the children to find similarities with one another; regardless of which school they attended, or side of town they lived. And, it worked! Commonalities in the curriculum taught by each of the coaches was evident as everyone exercised teamwork, respect and enthusiasm for one another’s success. Huge grins of achievement and cheering were the epitome for this sensational event. Thank you to all the coaches and to Daniel Buergi for sharing his photos.

Top boy and girl performers:
TK/K half mile
Cooper Snow from Country Club 3:44

Will Kwok from Sycamore 3:34
1st grade half mile
Camden King from Coyote Creek 3:33
Marina Dixon Rancho Romero 3:41

2nd grade half mile run
Matthew Haud from Country Club 3:15
Elizabeth Papa from Green Valley 3:31

3rd grade half mile run
Jake Kwok from Sycamore 3:22
Kate Snow from Country Club 3:36

4th grade mile run
Alex Jimenez from Bollinger Canyon 6:06
Emilina King from Coyote Creek 7:28

5th grade mile run
The brothers Noor and Robi Ahmad from Live Oak with 5:25 WOW
Elizabeth Buergi from Bella Vista 7:18

Coach Erin Halonen of Tassajara Hills Elementary School adds, “This was the first time we had done the Spring Fun Run in a few years. We were excited to host it at Iron Horse Middle School this year. We are hoping that the event gains popularity in the years to come, but most of all it is fun to meet students, kids and families from other parts of the district and share a mutual love for physical activity.”