Second Annual Parkside Stride a Success

By Rebecca Wallace
On March 11, the PTA of Parkside Elementary hosted the Second Annual Parkside Stride 5K and 1-mile fun run. A Peachtree Road Race qualifier, the Parkside Stride 5K and the event’s 1-mile run attracted around 300 runners. Because of the support of its year-long sponsors and “Panda Partners,” including local businesses, neighborhood organizations, and community leaders, the school could again offer an $8 registration fee to its students for the race. Nearly half the participants were Parkside students.
“With shirts for all the runners and the costs associated with putting on a race, registration fees would normally have to be much higher for us just to break even,” said Leigh Schrope, PTA fundraising chair. “Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, we not only covered costs, but made a little money that will go back to the school as well.”
The following businesses, organizations, and individuals contributed both cash and in-kind support to the Parkside PTA during the 2016-2017 school year: 3 Parks Wine Shop, Agave, Body Well Chiropractor, Bridget Fancher, Realtor, Atlanta City Councilwoman Carla Smith, Carter & Associates, George Voegtlin of Adams Realty, Georgia House Rep. David Dreyer (District 59), Georgia Therapy, Grant Park Neighborhood Association, Intown Pediatrics, Intown Stars Gymnastics, ISU Paragon (formerly known as Holcomb Insurance), Helen Kynes, Red Robin Group, the Law Firm of Shein and Brandenburg, My Friend’s Growler Shop, Pellerin Real Estate, Preferred School Care, Relish, Rhen’s Nest, Round Here Renovations, Six Feet Under, Snap Fitness, Southern Smiles Dentistry, Vickery’s, Wilderness Works, Yummy Street, and Ziba’s Wine Bistro.
Diverse as the community it represents, Parkside serves the Grant Park, Summerhill, Boulevard Heights, Ormewood Park, and Cabbagetown neighborhoods. The nurturing environment follows a comprehensive core curriculum that includes Spanish, the Arts, and a Learning Garden. A Title 1 school, Parkside is able to maintain reduced class sizes and provide many support services including gifted and talented, special education, and English as a second language). The school employs an International Baccalaureate (IB) specialist who supports Parkside on its path toward becoming an IB candidate school. Parkside also offers robust afterschool enrichment programming, including ballet, drama, chess, and karate. More information is available at www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/Parkside and www.Facebook.com/ParksideElementaryPTA. Tours of the school are offered every Wednesday at 9:00am.