K-MES students raise $25K for library book sets

Kasson-Mantorville Elementary School students got plenty of exercise and helped raise money on March 22 during a Boosterthon ‘Glow Run’ at the school.
The event, sponsored by the K-M Parent Teacher Association, had the youngsters racing at top speed in a circle and through a large inflatable tunnel amidst flashing lights, spurred on by teachers, family and friends as music played.
Members of Boosterthon, a Georgia-based fundraising organization, visit schools to teach students about fitness, character development, and character education.
The students connected online to earn pledges from family and friends around the nation in preparation for the fundraiser. And each tried to run or walk 35 short laps around the gym to celebrate their success.
A total of $25,000 was raised to add sets of “leveled” library books, which teachers can use to work with students in small groups at their individual reading levels.
“With 840 students in our school, the need for lots of book choices is key to ensuring teachers are able to have lots of choices to encourage students to read,” KMES principal Ariana Wright said. “One of the strategies that makes the most impact with students who are learning to read is exposure to lots of different books. The more books we have for students to read, the more often they will read and the better readers they will become. With a school our size, a completely stocked leveled library would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. We are so grateful for the community and PTA support to help us grow this important resource for students.”
Boosterthon helps set school fundraising goals, based on the community and past fundraising efforts.
“And our students and our community and our families were incredibly generous to us,” Wright said. “We are so grateful and humbled to have met our goal of $25,000, and that means that tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. I get slimed by our students.”
The school also partnered with a Rochester organization to host a free dental clinic for students in need.  
“Our whole week has been an uplifting and encouraging and kid-focused week,” Wright said.