Published: October 14, 2008 10:31 pm      

Edmond students go on ‘safari’

EDMOND — Tuesday morning rain went right along with the Cross Timbers walk-a-thon theme, “Jungle Safari through the Cross Timbers Rainforest.”

Students happily traipsed through the mist to jungle favorites, including “George of the Jungle” and songs from the hit Disney movie, “The Lion King.”

There was no shortage of parents as several held class banners and cheered while others walked with their children.

“I came out to support them all,” said parent Laura Baer. “They all need someone behind them even if their parents couldn’t be here.”

Samantha Schietzach, fourth-grader, walked with kindergartner Annalee Crawford.

“It’s a lot of fun to hang out with the little kids,” Schietzach said.

She said walking and being healthy allows her to do a lot more when she grows up.

Diane Talopana, coordinator of the walk, said she hopes the students will raise about $30,000 for the school. The money will be used to purchase nine REDCAT sound systems, nine smart boards and two ceiling-mount-projectors for the cafeteria and media center.

“It allows the kids and families to get together and do something besides sell products,” Talopana said. “It also allows them to get exercise.”

Cathey Bugg, principal, said the safari theme for the year focuses on protecting the planet and environment.

“We tried to tie all the main events to one theme,” Bugg said. “It builds excitement. It shows them we can all work together for a project. That’s really what protecting our planet is all about.”

In conjunction with the theme, students will learn about the golden lion tamarin monkey, an endangered species, and will participate with a national conservation organization later in the year to raise money to help save the species.

Bugg said they also have a lot of projects involved with beautifying the campus and the fifth-grade recently competed in music class in a jingle contest that focused on litter. Lilian Velasco won with her jingle about how Cross Timbers is “going green,” and Erin Duvall and Abby Cain won with their rap.

“It was about keeping the environment clean and helping the earth,” Duvall said.