Hawaii Conference

Jog-a-thon

2020

By Sarah Traczyk and Amanda Patricio

Hawaiian Mission Academy Ka Lama Iki and Hawaiian Mission Academy Windward Campus kicked off the New Year with their annual Jog-a-thon fun run. The two HMA campuses joined forces to make possible the biggest fundraiser of the year. For two hours on January 19, more than 200 students, parents, siblings, and friends ran, walked, hopped, and even danced around the track. It was a fun run indeed—a fun day all around.

Each year, all classes prepare for this event in advance. Jog-a-thon preparations are included in physical education classes, of course, but math classes are also involved in collecting donations and pledges. Community outreach is also a big part of the preparation. Jog-a-thon takes place every year on Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend and brings the campuses together for three main goals: wellness, teamwork, and fundraising.

Wellness

HMA Ka Lama Iki and HMA Windward understand the value of not simply focusing on testing and improving target educational goals all year. There is great significance in educating the whole student— promoting physical fitness, mental health, and spiritual wellbeing. It is also important to cut down on screen time.

Teamwork

Uniting the partnership of Oahu’s Adventist schools is among the top priorities this year for principals at all four Oahu SDA schools. On the day of Jog-a-thon, the elementary schools were thrilled to have the HMA high school girls varsity basketball team, coaches, and school principal join them to support the younger students through two hours of constant exercise.

Fundraising

“With such small school settings, the need for funds is a constant concern,” shared Sarah Traczyk, principal at HMA Ka Lama Iki. “Jog-a-thon provides us with the opportunity to join forces—join together with ohana—and just have a great morning running and chatting with community, parents, and friends.” Improving technology on campus and rebooting school clubs

like the robotics club and coding club are vital to the transformation that is helping HMA campuses incorporate STEM into classrooms. Technology is not simply laptops and tablets—it also means having the resources available for sponsoring clubs, producing hands-on lessons, and connecting students’ learning to reallife career choices.

Jog-a-thon will continue to undergo positive changes to best meet the everchanging needs of the schools and students. Ideas for color runs—where runners are doused in colored powder after each kilometer—and other outside relays are in the works for next year’s big event.