Sandy - Kicking off the year with a Harry Potter wizard theme Aug. 26, Altara Elementary students put some magic and fun into their annual jog-a-thon as they hoped to raise $16,000 for Parent-Teacher Association activities and events this year.

The Sept. 11 jog-a-thon allowed first- through fifth-grade students to run a course through the neighborhood, finishing in the back of the school, where kindergartners ran laps on the field. 

Students asked family and friends for pledges to help reach the school goal. Last year, students earned $15,700.

“We encourage the students to run for the two weeks we’re in school before the jog-a-thon, and to get plenty of sleep and wear proper shoes,” PTA public relations chair Naomi Bizek said. “Through the run, we’re able to keep 100 percent of the money made in-house.”

Altara uses the funds for activities such as classroom parties, teacher appreciation, Red Ribbon Week, Reflections, Meet the Masters art program and others. They also awarded students certificates of completion, water bottles and kids coupons for free meals to local businesses.

Top male and female finishers in each grade each received a gift card, and the top 10 fundraising earners could receive prizes such as a Kindle or an American Girl doll. There were random drawings for prizes for all students at a post assembly held in mid-October.

Sharyle Karren said that the jog-a-thon started when she served as Altara’s principal, about 12 years ago. First-grade teacher Joni Richardson has participated every year until this year, when she had to sit out because of a knee injury.

As of press deadline, the total amount of money raised this year was not yet finalized.