Footsteps with God
Friday, October 14, 2022 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
FOOTSTEPS WITH GOD: WALK-A-THON HISTORY
In 1989, the St. Michael School PTA created the school’s first annual fundraiser, “Walk-A-Thon.” The PTA, students, faculty, and parishioners joined together to raise much-needed funds for their school. The students collected pledges from family and friends, in exchange for completing a two-mile walk through the surrounding neighborhoods.
Through the years, the PTA’s original fundraiser has evolved into the “Footsteps with God” annual Walk-A-Thon and annual Junior High Run. The communities of St. Michael and St. Gabriel are still dedicated to ensuring that the school remains a constructive and respected influence on their students, families, parishioners, and neighborhood.
In 2010, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis approved a plan to partner St. Gabriel the Archangel School with St. Michael the Archangel School. Together, these two schools joined Cardinal Ritter High School to form the West Deanery Unified Catholic Schools, Inc. The newly partnered grade school, St. Michael-St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Elementary School was tasked to continue its mission of providing quality education to the families of St. Michael and St. Gabriel Parishes, as well as the surrounding area.
We are a small school with a student population that averages 345. Our teachers have the opportunity to get to know each student and to make everyone feel important. This also helps us foster a safe and secure environment as well as offer individualized attention to each one of our students to join together for the common goal of helping our school.
YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK
The SMSG PTA is the sponsor and administrator of this annual event. All the money raised is used for projects that enhance, enrich, and maintain our school. All donations received will remain in the school.
Participation in the Walk-A-Thon helps foster a sense of pride and unification and allows everyone in the community to join together for the common goal of helping our school. This is our biggest fundraiser and provides the funds necessary to pay for programs that touch every student.
Donations are used to support Catholic Schools Week, Field Day events, the Christmas Feast, Grandparents’ Day, and other school-wide celebrations. Money raised also goes toward making after school clubs available to all students and supporting class field trips.
In the past funds have been used to provide air conditioning to classrooms, tile classroom floors, purchase new cafeteria tables and classroom whiteboards, improve the art and music rooms, attain a science lab, purchase recess equipment, provide water bottle filling stations on each floor, update telecommunications and technology, and the most recent improvement, our beautiful new playground!
The money raised by this walk gives us the necessary support to bring our students, parents, and teachers together to form more than just an academic school. We become a family where friendships are made and strengthened by day to day activities and celebratory events!
SMSG WALK-A-THON (WAT)
Students are asked to collect monetary donations/ sponsorships from family, friends, neighbors, and businesses. All students participate in either the Junior High Run or the walk through the neighborhood. This is not a race, but a chance for students to build friendships and celebrate their hard work together. There are stations to refresh and have fun along the route!
SMSG JUNIOR HIGH RUN
The Run is open to students in grades six, seven, and eight. The one-mile run should be completed within ten minutes. The top three male and female finishers will have their names added to the Junior High Run plaque displayed in the school hallway.
WALK-A-THON PEP RALLY
The day’s events begin with the Junior High Run as the rest of the students enjoy their lunch outside. After the run, and once all students have eaten, everyone will head into the Parish Life Center/Gymnasium for our “Footsteps with God” Pep Rally. Recognition is made for corporate sponsors, the T-shirt design, Junior High Run winners, top homerooms, and top fifteen students. Finally, the WAT grand total is announced. This is all followed by some fun activities in which students are chosen to participate.
DONATION INFORMATION
Students should collect donations and return them to the school on designated count days. Please put donations in an envelope with the student’s name, grade, and the amount enclosed. Checks should be made out to “SMSG PTA” with the student’s name on the memo line.
Corporate sponsorships begin at $300 for name recognition and $500 to include the logo. These sponsorships do count toward student totals. For more information, please contact Ana Adams at smsgpta@indyarchangel.org.
