Rockland Catholic Elementaries Gather For Walk-A-Thon

This weekend was the first time in a few years that all the Catholic elementaries in Rockland County came together at Albertus Magnus High School for the Catholic School Spirit walk-a-thon, said Sister Stephen Gerard.

The schools used to do this at Albertus, but the last few years, each elementary separately hosted this annual walk-a-thon at their own respective schools, said Mary Jane Michalak. 

"We're stronger as a group," she said. "We're a community of faith."

For the walk-a-thon, each student got sponsors for their pledge sheet who would pay a certain amount for each lap the students walked around the Albertus track. All the money collected goes back to their own schools, said Lisa Gallagher, a member of the Rockland County Catholic Schools Parents Association, which is the group that planed this event.

"The seven elementaries feed into (Albertus) High School so this is good for them to come together and get to know everyone else," said Gallagher. "That way there'll be familiar faces when they get to high school."

Hundreds of children and families came out for this event.

"I think it's pretty great raising this money for the kids," said mother Barbara Jones. She came out with her daughter Danica—who loved face painting the most—and her niece Adrianna Flowers.

"I like being with my friends and racing around the track," said Flowers. She did three laps at the walk-a-thon.

There were seven elementary schools and Albertus participating. Albertus is Rockland County's only Catholic high school. Everyone was asked to bring one canned good to be donated to People to People, Rockland County's largest food pantry.

Some of the fun features included a concession stand and music run by Albertus' performing arts, a raffle and face painting. All the proceeds from the sales go back to the performing arts fund, said Nadia Rizzo, music and drama director at Albertus.

"It's great to have all the Catholic schools come together," Rizzo said. She added that it goes toward their play productions and the performing arts conference in December.