Bridging the Gap

This morning, our family got up bright and early, put on our track suits and tennies, and headed over to Tigard High. The mission? Help "bridge the gap," the funding gap that is, that seems to grow ever-wider each year. The Tigard-Tualatin Schools Foundation started this 5K/10K walk/run fundraiser last year, in an attempt to help them raise money to provide for important things that have been cut from the school district's budget. Things like music instruments, computers, and after school clubs and classes. In some cases, they've even paid for more FTE, (or more teachers.)

As a employee of the district, I see the importance every day of these programs and supplies that the kids are just plain doing without, and I recognize and respect the work of the volunteers who are working hard to provide them. In addition, Camryn will be starting Kindergarten this fall in one of the district's ten elementary schools. To me, this means that those "cuts," and those "do with outs" will now directly affect her and her education. Which is why we were truly motivated to do our (small) part and participate in the 5K walk this morning, as a family.

It was overcast, but warm, and Camryn's spirits were up. She was mostly happy to walk, run, jog and skip her way to the finish line, motivated especially by the music provided by the marimba band from her elementary school! I did give her a few piggy back rides along the way to rest her little legs, and Daddy (wisely) saved a Pixie Stick candy offered to her at a booth for the halfway point, which gave her both motivation, and a little sugar rush to finish the race. :) Aubrey mostly enjoyed the scenery and the wind in her face as she rode along in her stroller, but she was happy to be out and about too.

We hope this event raises awareness, raises money, and becomes a larger community tradition as we try to bridge the gap between what is available to our kids, and what should be.