When White Rock Elementary Principal Lee Walker was a child, her school hosted a race called the Turkey Trot just before students let out for Thanksgiving break. The lanky athlete won her race more often than not, and winning meant she took home the contest’s proud prize – a frozen turkey.
Walker says riding home on the school bus with the cold bird on her lap was awkward, and her mother was congratulatory but mildly bewildered when she got it home. Clearly, though, the experience was memorable.
Walker introduced the event to her WRE kids in the form of Friday’s Turkey Dash with one change – prizes for the top 3 male and female finishers in each grade are a shiny custom-designed medal, created and presented by the WRE Dad’s Club.
The winners were fine with that.