Highland Elementary students going ninja this month for good cause

Nancy McCleary, The Sanford Herald, N.C.
·2 min read

Oct. 11—Highland Elementary School's Parent-Teacher Organization is preparing for its largest event of the year.

It's a Ninja Warrior Challenge for the 893 Highland Elementary students in grades K-5 scheduled the week of Oct. 24.

Last year, 688 students took part in the challenge and raised $20,000, according to Staci Florence, PTO secretary.

The goal this year to raise enough money to provide new flooring for the playground, Florence said.

The fundraiser relies on donations collected by students. The larger the donation, the higher level the student goes and the larger prize that's awarded. The donations also ensure the student's participation in the event, Florence said.

Donations can be as little as $3, which is designated Level 1. Level 2 is reach by collecting $5 in donations, earning students a light-up animal ring that is included in all levels.

Level 3 is reached by collecting $25 in donations and the rewards are a fiber-optic wand and the ring. Level 4 is reached by collecting $50 and earns a Ninja Warrior T-shirt, the fiber-optic wand and the ring.

Students who collect donations of $100 will get the rewards of each level plus a Tiger Rock Tae Kwon Do demonstration.

The three students collecting the highest amount of donations will get special prizes. The third-place finisher will get a member to the N.C. Zoo and second place gets a $250 gift card to Defy Gravity in Fayetteville.

The student who collects the most donations will receive a $500 gift card to Great Wolf Lodge. and first pl

The course is designed to allow all students to finish but also offer challenges, Florence said. Some of the obstacles dragging a tire that's attached to a chain, stepping though tires, going up inclines to the reach the top of a sliding board, walking on balance beams and more.

"It (the challenge) will be done all week," Florence said. "It's literally done all day, all week. Each class goes at a different time to allow minimal disruption to the school day."

Family and friends are welcome to watch the Ninja Warrior Challenged. A schedule of the time each class is running the course will be sent home and posted on the PTO's Facebook page.

Only Highland Elementary students are allowed to take part.