By Christine Fernando
When students pour in through white-rimmed doors of College Wood Elementary School for the new school year in August, they’ll be able to enjoy a new 1/8-mile walking path.
“It’s something that every single student at College Wood can benefit from,” said Susan Herrmann, PTO president for the 2016-17 school year. “You want to put funds toward something that can touch every single student, and the walking path does that.”
The path will stretch through the grassy field behind College Wood to the transportation services building beside the school.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at a back-to-school social Aug. 13, two days before school begins. The social and ceremony will be open to all College Wood families.
The path cost $28,500, half of which was paid for by the PTO. The remaining $14,250 was provided by Carmel Clay Schools, Herrmann said.
Hermann said the funds provided by the PTO came from two annual fundraisers. The first fundraiser takes place at the beginning of the school year when PTO members ask parents and families for donations. All donations go to the PTO, and donors can receive a tax reduction in return.
The second fundraiser is the school carnival in the spring that includes carnival-style games, a raffle and an auction.
When existing fundraising goals are met, Herrmann said the extra money goes toward a project that will enrich the school in the long-run. This year, funds went for the walking path.
As a result, Herrmann said the path was built thanks to the efforts of College Wood staff members, parents and members of the community who donated goods and services to the carnival.
“Without all these different people working together, we wouldn’t have had the success we did, and we wouldn’t have been able to make this all possible,” she said.
Herrmann said she expects children to use the path at recess and during physical education classes. She said the PTO can also plan wellness activities around the path.
“There’s so many possibilities,” Herrmann said. “I know the path will be put to good use.”
Herrmann said the path’s location also allows members of the community outside of College Wood to use it. As a result, the path will be an asset to the entire community, she said.
“It’s not just for the students,” she said. “It’s for the community and promoting a healthy lifestyle within it.”
