As we gear up for the annual Jump Rope for Heart event this Friday, it’s important to reflect on why we choose to support certain community organizations each year and then not others.  (Believe me, if we could support everyone, we most certainly would do so—we have such a generous, giving campus!)  Our campus CATCH Committee members (Coordinated Approach To Children’s Health) are committed to partnering with community groups who specifically support our Miller children’s health and daily fitness.  As discussed in previous blogs, this group is charged with the responsibility of planning campus events geared to improving the overall health of all learners, their classroom leaders, and Miller families—No-TV events are an example of their ongoing work each year.  The American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart event is one way we give back to the community at large while improving our own individual health in the process.

Our All-Star Fun Run this year was another CATCH (and PTO) idea to promote raising campus activity money while meeting personal fitness goals in the process.  Thanks to the success of the Fun Run, we raised over $15,000 for our campus—every child participated in a special field trip at no cost, every child received a Miller t-shirt for school events like the field trip and our field day at no cost, and we purchased a classroom set of iPads with additional equipment in order to enhance our ongoing commitment to technology.

JRfH is a tradition here at Miller; it’s a tradition we started on another elementary campus many years ago (and it’s still going strong there thanks to a nurturing staff).  Our Miller learners are excited to jump for others because they know we may very well be jumping to save someone’s life right here on our campus.  Just like I remind us everyday during morning message, “You have a choice everyday.”  As a parent, you always have the choice to participate or not; this is your right and we respect it.  All of us jump (regardless of whether we give or not).  It builds teamwork and community within our Miller family while we work together to help others and ourselves.  Please, if you ever have questions about what we’re doing or why we’re doing it, our door is open; you need only ask!  In the meantime, I know our 5th grade team always CATCHes the spirit and is really ready for the Heart ROCK Cafe this week; are you?! 🙂