The
Forum:
Running
for education: a rally cry
To the Editor on April 27:
The WGHS Staff has been working so hard to protect education.
We have marched in Albany, written to the governor, rallied with TAE,
written letters to the editor, worked with the student SOS committee,
attended board meetings and spoken passionately for the needs of students.
In December, we made a commitment to run around Seneca
Lake as part of the Seneca 7 Event to continue our rally for education.
With our students in our hearts, we gathered at 5:30 Sunday, April 21
and began a journey that was truly exquisite. Some of us have been running
our whole lives and some of us are new to the world of racing. It did
not matter; we all laced up our running shoes, with matching WGHS Seneca
shirts and education slogans on our back and began a journey that will
stay with us for a long time!
A total of 210 teams registered for the Seneca 7. That means that 1,470
particpants made their ran around our beloved lake! Each runner ran
three legs of predetermined distances and handed off to the next runner
as the rest of the team piled into the van to deliver the next relay
member. Our team was filled with high energy, excitement, and sometimes
nervousness when long hills or big distances awaited. We cheered, rang
the provided cow bell, beeped as we passed and hoped we provided enough
support to get them through!
We started by the Smith Opera House. I took the first leg, beginning
up a grass hill and onto another hill ... and finally reaching the main
road and our trek towards the west side of the lake. I have been running
since I was 15 and now in my 50s compete on an FLRC Veterans Cross-Country
team. I love running, and nothing beats running for our students! I
am thrilled to teach Global History, Modern Africa and Model UN at WG,
and to work with such a devoted staff. I am a WG graduate and am devoted
to my school. We would run a million more miles to bring back our teachers
and get our nation away from this mad commitment to high stakes testing!
Our Leg 2 runner was Liam O'Kane. Mr. O'Kane is a passionate English
teacher whose love of literature is conveyed to the kids on a daily
basis. He ran his first 5K at the Live Like Liz last June after his
mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Mr. O"Kane has been a
devoted voice for the kids with eloquent letters to the editor challenging
the notions of high stakes testing and the cutting of the very staff
that ensures our students' success. He runs with his dog Millie and
the love of his ladies -- his wife Llanya, who teaches Math at WGHS
and is currently at home raising their beautiful daughters, Lula and
Lavinia. The O"Kane family met us at the Clute Park exchange with
Mrs. Muir to cheer us on!
Our Leg 3 and 5 runners were Kelsey and Darcy Wood, who are both known
for their own outstanding track careers at WG. Kelsey Wood is the teacher
of the ACE U.S History and ACE Government classes at WGHS. She coached
track for six years and is an energetic force at WG. She is devoted
to academic excellence and inspires her students to do their best. She
was a sprinter in her day (a member of the school 4x100 Meter record
squad).
She has moved to the world of distance running. She meets with her
sister Darcy Wood most mornings to begin the day with a 5:30 a.m. run
before they make their way to work. Darcy is a lawyer in the area and
is absolutely devoted to the Watkins community. It was a thrill for
me to run a relay with two of my former track athletes. I never dreamed
that could be! Their mama, Cyndy Wood, our PE teacher who has kept our
community safe with her incredible lifeguarding
courses and attention to water safety, cheered us on throughout the
day. She was joined by retired PE teacher Barb Hughey and her husband
Steve. Barb was renowned for her energy and Spring into Sports program.
She had tremendous ideas and the energy and organization to make them
work!
The Number 4 leg runner was our English teacher and boys track coach,
Travis Durfee. Durf, as we know him, is mighty quick and we were delighted
to have a speedster on the team. Writer, musican, and family man, Durf
gave over his whole weekend for WGHS -- orchestrating debates on Saturday
and running on Sunday! Durf ran the CVT Half Marathon last year and
has a love of distance. He provided the wheels and some mighty fine
driving, somehow avoiding three deer that sprang into the road in our
early morning journey. Durf's wife and kids made it to two of the exchanges
to cheer for us -- and to have a chance to see him!
Number 6 runner was our dear Chemistry teacher Barb Coon, also a WG
graduate! Mrs Coon is devoted to the education of the kids at WG! She
believes in meaningful learning and works night and day to create excellence
for her students. She took up running again this past year after a switch
to hiking and skiing hundreds of miles. She still loves the hiking and
the skiing, but has
had a ball on the 5K circuit with me and Eileen Malaney. She is devoted
to the environment, good land, air, and water practices. Of all the
places she loves to run, the gorge is her favorite. She can be found
working at all of our student events, chaperoning and helping kids!
Even after an endless uphill leg, she is game for another Seneca 7!
Our team also included the above-mentioned Eileen Malaney, a Business
teacher who is our Yearbook advisor and freshman class advisor. She
is known for supporting and celebrating every student event with beautiful
programs and posters. She creates phenomenal ads for the kids and takes
them on the coolest field trips to get a sense of the business world.
Her department, before being cut from three to one, was chosen as the
#1 business department in all NYS schools! She chaperones dances, goes
to a billion sporting events, and greets all the students with warmth
and kindness. She has been running for the past year and competes in
the local 5Ks. She runs regularly with Coon and me -- and was our final
runner.
We all joined for her final 200 meters -- the very last leg of our
journey, cheering and singing "We are the Senecas, Mighty, Mighty
Senecas" as we crossed the finish line! May our community all rise
up to demand the very best for our beautiful students. Hire back our
teachers, stop the incessant testing, and provide the best education
for the children of Seneca Lake!
Out of 210 teams, our team was 106th with an average split time of
8:48 per mile. Two runners in their 20s, two in their 30s, and three
in their 50s. Not bad!
Marie Fitzsimmons
Watkins Glen High School
Department Coordinator
Interact Co-Advisor
Student Council Advisor
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