Apex Fun Run

The Cary Elementary PTA is happy to partner with Apex Leadership Co. once again, so they can provide our school with over a week's worth of activities, games and support to make this years Fun Run as amazingly successful as last year’s!

The Apex Fun Run is a high energy, celebratory fitness event held at the end of the two-week leadership building program. Students get to have a ton of fun and be active. There are two components to the Apex Fun Run:
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Two-Week Leadership Program

1) Beginning November 7th, Apex staff will work with children in every classroom through daily leadership lessons. This program focuses on self-control, decision-making and interpersonal skills helpful for school and life success. The quick, engaging lessons tie in with our school’s vision and mission, encourage students to create a positive environment, and inspire them to lead by example. ​

Fun Run

2) November 17th is the actual Fun Run, where students will be encouraged to complete “laps” to fun upbeat music. Parents and families are asked to make donations in the form of pledges/lap that their child(ren) complete(s). Parents can also definitely participate during the Fun Run, either as volunteers, or as additional hands and voices for the cheering section. We’ve had very successful programs in the past and look forward to another one this year. ​

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​This is the PTA's primary fundraiser for the year. We are partnering with Apex Leadership Co. to bring our kids a compelling and enriching experience that they will remember throughout their life. We ask for your generosity in supporting both this experience and your PTA. This year, we are raising money for Creating Connection, School Programming (Cultural arts Field Trips and more), Community Events (Trunk or Treat, Talent Show, Holiday shop, etc.), Teacher Support & Appreciation, Continued Advocacy to Cary Families and so much more.

In the past, funds raised from this event have provided technology upgrades, addition of air purifiers, supporting Community Events, purchase of new musical instruments, Teacher Support & Appreciation, and a Renovation of the Teacher Workroom. Donations also of course support Apex Leadership Co. and the exciting program they bring to Cary Elementary and other schools throughout the region. The Cary Elementary PTA recoups a majority of the funds raised for the event.

This Youtube video will give you a high-level vibe for the Apex Leadership Co. and the service they seek to provide. You can also follow Apex Leadership Co.'s social media presence:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ApexLeadershipNC/
Instagram: @apexleadershipconc 
Twitter: @apexleadership2

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Fun Run Timeline

Two-week Leadership Program Details

The Daily Lessons offer an exciting opportunity to develop specific skills, grow relationships, and build suspense to the Fun Run event. This year's theme is X-FACTOR (more details below). 

Key Dates:

• Monday, November 7th: Teacher Huddle @8:15 am in the Media Center. This will be followed by a Pep Rally Video (10 mins) which the teachers will show the students in class. Apex will provide teachers with pledge kits to pass out to students. Apex employees will also stop by each classroom to introduce themseleves and announce the first challenge.
• Wednesday November 9 - Wednesday, November 16: Apex employee coaches will visit each class in the morning to teach that day's habit (see schedule below), provide every student with a daily leadership bracelet, check the classroom incentive poster, celebrate the captain for the day, hand out prizes, announce the nightly challenge, and remind the kids that the coach will be at recess that day.

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X-FACTOR:
​The X-FACTOR program comprises six components -- Fearless, Adapt, Care, Talk 'Em Up, Original, and Realize. This PDF contains links to the videos your kids will see in class (in both English and Spanish).

Pledge Competition:
During the two-week leadership lesson program, each class will also be competing for who's students can raise the most funds via online pledges which correspond to the number of laps they will complete during the Fun Run. Each day, the Apex coaches will review the progress of the class with the students, and cheer them on. There will also be a friendly competition component among the other classes in the grade (i.e. who's class can raise the most money). Classes that perform the best will be rewarded at their teacher's discretion. Some popular rewards in the past have included: extra recess, crazy hat day, show and tell time, dance parties, Pie the Apex coaches, popsicles, pizza parties, water relays, and other ideas.

There are 2 ways to pledge funds for your student:

• A $ pledge per lap: amount is multiplied by the number of laps the student completes at the event. Example: if a sponsor makes a $1 pledge per lap and the student completes 30 laps, the sponsor donates $30 to the school.
• A flat donation is a $$ amount that is not determined by the number of laps a student completes.
• During the event, students will average between 26-36 laps (capped at 36 and minimum of 26 laps entered).
• All pledges are made online at www.MyApexEvent.com. Sponsors will be prompted to pay for all donations online at MyApexEvent.com to make the collection process easier and faster. 
• Use the portal at www.MyApexEvent.com and your student's access code to set up their profile and make pledges.
• You can then use the 'Share Wizard' to invite your friends and family via text or email to donate as well.
• Students that are absent or not able to participate in the event will receive the result count of 30 so their sponsors can still support the school.
• Teachers will be incentivized (via a raffle for an Amazon gift card) to communicate with parents and encourage them to get their pledges in. 

​Everyone is included:
Every student at our school participates in the daily leadership and character lessons, receives daily lesson silicone wristbands, enjoys classroom & school wide rewards, and takes part in the celebratory, high-energy fitness event, regardless of financial participation in the fundraiser. We want to EMPHASIZE that if you feel it is not within your family's means to donate, your child will NOT miss out on any rewards with their class. They will also not be singled out in class or among their peer group. They will be aware of how much money the class is earning, and Apex coaches and their teacher will encourage the class as a whole to ask their parents and families for donations. Children are not asked to bring donations to class unless, for example, your family does not have access to the internet. Donations are typically made privately online by parents/family members.

Fun Run Details

The two-week Leadership Lesson program culminates in the Fun Run on the lower field at Cary Elementary. The Apex coaches will provide up-beat music, start and finish line markers, lots of decorations, and plenty of enthusiasm. During the event, students will be capped at about 26-36 laps. 

Key Dates:

• Thursday, November 17th: Be ready​ to have some fun at the big event! 
• Friday, November 18th: Final prizes are handed out & outstanding challenges are completed.

Making Pledges:
See details above on how to make pledges and invite others to support your student, our PTA, and Apex Leadership Co.

​Parent Volunteers:
We would love to have you join for this really special event if you are able. Please sign up here. Parents can volunteer to help keep the kids hydrated, to help check off laps, and to just generally cheer for these wonderful kids and keep up their enthusiasm. If you would like to help out, please contact the Cary Elementary PTA organizer Cody Hand (codyrhand@gmail.com), or Stacy Wilson (swilson3@wcpss,net) for more information. You will need to be a registered volunteer with Wake County Schools to participate and you need to get that process started well ahead of time (go to the volunteer page for more details). 

Fun Run Details and Timeline (sign up here to volunteer):

• Where: back of school lower field - 2 tracks (1 for each grade level)
• ​Park in the back lot and we will have sign in on the field.
• Round 1:  9:30 AM – K & 3rd
• Round 2:  10:30 AM – 1st & 2nd
• Round 3:  11:30 AM - 4th & 5th
• Round 4: 12:30 EC & PreK

Everyone is included:
As stated for the two-week leadership program, every student at our school participates in the Fun Run regardless of the number of pledges they have received. This event is 100% inclusive!

Frequently Asked Questions

It's a big program and there are lots of details. Here's a pdf with some answers to your questions including how the pledges and access codes work, etc. If you have more questions, you can absolutely reach out to Cody Hand, Cary Elementary PTA Communications, or the franchise owner, Michael Scroope.