By Rebecca Wallace
On March 11 the PTA of Parkside Elementary will host the second Annual Parkside Stride 5K and 1-mile fun run. Home of the Pandas, Parkside serves Grant Park, Summerhill, Boulevard Heights, Ormewood Park, and Cabbagetown, but welcomes all runners in the Southeast Atlanta area (and beyond) to this neighborhood race. The Stride 5K is a Peachtree Road Race qualifier and will be held rain or shine. Both races start at Parkside; the 1-mile run is at 8:00am and the 5K at 8:30am.
More than 300 runners attended the inaugural event in 2016, including the APS superintendent and some of her leadership team, members of the Atlanta Board of Education and City Council, other city officials, friends, and neighbors.
“I guess I need to start training,” said Principal Rebecca Pruitt. “If Superintendent (Meria) Carstarphen can do it, I can do it!”
Thanks to the generous sponsors and partners of the school, Parkside students and staff can run the 5K for only $8 and the 1-mile for $5. Parents and non-Parkside families are welcome to run the 5K for $25 and the 1-mile run for $15. All fees include a race shirt designed by graphic artists and Parkside dads Brody Boyer and Matt Mewis.
To register for the Parkside Stride, please visit www.runsignup.com/ParksideStride. Runners must register by March 4 to be guaranteed a shirt and the initial race fees. Students and staff must register at school to receive the student discount.
At Parkside, diversity that reflects the community beyond the walls and a sense of community within our walls is at the core of “Panda Pride.” The educational team nurtures the whole child with a comprehensive core curriculum that includes Spanish and the Arts. Parkside enjoys reduced class sizes and provides varied support services including Gifted and Talented, Special Education, and English as a Second Language (ESOL). Through partnerships and grants, Parkside is able to provide “extra” learning experiences such as an edible garden and a unique fitness program, which includes roller-skating and state-of-the-art fitness equipment. The school has on staff an International Baccalaureate (IB) Specialist that will support Parkside in its journey toward becoming an IB candidate school.
For more information on Parkside Elementary, please call 404-802-4100 or visit www.Atlanta.k12.ga.us/Parkside. Tours of the school are given each week for prospective families on Wednesdays at 9:00am. Visit and “like” the PTA Facebook page where you can keep up to date on other community events put on by PTA: Facebook.com/ParksideElementaryPTA.
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The second annual Parkside Stride takes place on March 11. Photo: Melanie Jones
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Fun at the first annual Parkside Stride last year. Photo: Melanie Jones
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