Waitsburg Elementary students raise more than $5,000 for Jump for Heart

WAITSBURG-Waitsburg Elementary students spent the first couple weeks of the year raising funds for the American Heart Association. The students raised a grand total of $5,185.96, breaking the school's record with ease.

Established in 1983, Jump for Heart is an AHA program that raises vital money for research, while simultaneously encouraging exercise and healthy diets while teaching about heart health. The Jump for Heart program ends with a Jump-Off Day, where kids get to play jump rope games. Last year, Jump Off Day was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic that shut schools down completely.

This year, Kathy Schirm and Shelby Gould, both Waitsburg School District employees, carefully planned a two-day event, to accommodate both Group A and Group B students based on the school's schedule. 3-5 grade students played in the morning, while K-2 students got to play jump rope games in the afternoons.

Students who raised more than $60 were asked to help Silly String Mr. Pickel after class on March 1 and 4, depending on which class group the student was in. Fourth grader Colt Boudrieau raised the most money as a single student, raising $540.

"He gets to be the P.E teacher for a day soon," said Schirm. Boudrieau was unavailable for comment, likely because he is busy making his P.E lesson plans.

The fourth-grade class raised the most money, by class, during the fundraiser, earning them a pizza and popcorn party with Mr. Pickel. The top four individual fundraisers were all fourth-grade students.

Schirm said she wanted to give a special thank you to everyone who donated to the fundraiser, and to Rosie Nechodom, Shelby Gould, and the freshman students who helped make the Jump Off Days successful.