News

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

OAS Students Head to Leadbetter Beach for a Schoolwide Triathlon

Open Alternative School is preparing for the 24th annual school triathlon at Leadbetter Beach on June 12. This non-competitive triathlon will bring students to the harbor area from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. Kids will contribute towards an all-school prize with a run, bike section and lap swim, which will extend from Shoreline Park, to a main staging area at Leadbetter Beach, including a bike ride along the entire beach front, with the swim section at Los Baños. The whole school will participate, with over 200 children ages 5 to 14 running, biking and swimming at their personal best. This will be a zero-waste athletic celebration and lunch at Leadbetter Beach Park.

“The whole point of the Iron Kid Triathlon is for the kids to set goals for themselves,” said Gwen Phillips, OAS principal, “and then work to meet those goals. It's for each person to do their very best. That's what this event is all about.”

Designated adults will assist kids and families with a zero-waste plan at the beach: cans or bottles go into recycling, the food waste goes in the compost, and everyone will use compostable party ware for the schoolwide lunch celebration.

This event serves as the main fundraiser for Open Alternative School's new Open Alternative Educational Foundation, which provides funding for technology, programs and art, in a time of increasing budget cuts. Specifically, this event will provide a much-needed computer aide, equipment, art supplies and materials, a new play structure, and funding for the school's Organic Healthy Lunch Garden Program, as well as contributing to the cost of an office assistant.Donations to this effort can be sent to: The Open Alternative Educational Foundation, 4025 Foothill Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93110. For more information on Open Alternative School, call the school at (805) 683-3127.