NEW SALEM — The maple sap is flowing and the Swift River School’s new student council plans a foot race and pancake breakfast to benefit the Enchanted Forest.
That’s what the elementary school calls its long-running before- and after-school program.
School Librarian and program Director Betsy Berganito said the program is open an hour before school and until 4:30 p.m. after school for parents who don’t have the flexibility to meet the regular school hours, or for students who can use the extra structure.
To do that the program charges about $5 an hour, Bergantino said, and some families can’t afford it.
Fourth-grade teacher Tina Newman started a student council last year, and decided to get involved. Last year the council raised a few hundred dollars for earthquake relief in Nepal, Newman said. This year the council chose to look closer to home, and a 5k and pancakes fit the bill.
“A 5k is something that the school started a few years ago, we have a perfect road for it; down to the corner and back is measured out 5k,” Newman said. Students are familiar with that course as the school is involved in the national 100 Mile Club program, which keeps participants logging miles throughout the year. “And we hadn’t had a pancake breakfast or anything like that in a long time, so the student council thought it would be fun to add that to it,” Newman said.
The Pancake Run is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 26 at the 201 Wendell Road school. A $1 donation is requested for the run, or walk, with a pancake breakfast to follow. The breakfast is $3 for children, $5 for adults, with prize baskets to be raffled off.
You can reach Chris Curtis at: ccurtis@recorder.com