At Immaculate Heart High School, students, both middle school and high school, go on the annual Walk in Los Feliz. The Walk is the school’s only annual fundraiser, and students look forward to it every year. During the Walk, students and faculty walk for four miles through the Los Feliz neighborhood.
Each year, students are presented with prizes that include: a Walk t-shirt, tote bag, sweatshirt, and sweatpants. In order to raise money, students send out emails and letters, asking for donations. If students raise $85, they can win the Walk t-shirt which can be worn to school every day until the day of the Walk. When students raise $120, they can win a tote bag with this year’s Walk design on it. $185 would give students this year’s Walk sweatshirt, which has a hoodie attached to it, and students can wear this all year long. Lastly, $250 would give students the Walk sweatpants which can be worn every Friday when students can wear any school apparel.
All of the money that the students raise go directly to improvements for the school. During the past three years, the school has seen improvements such as new vending machines, water fountains, microwaves, wooden flooring, desks, chairs, and a turf. Each year the goal is to raise $175,000, but this year, students have reached the goal in only two weeks into the fundraiser. As a result, the principal, Naemah Morris, proposed a stretch goal of $250,000. The school had implemented a stretch goal in 2017, and it was a tremendous success. If students reach this year’s stretch goal, the principal has said that students would be able to wear the Walk sweatpants on informal days instead of just Fridays.
On Friday, November 8, students arrived at school at 8:45 am. Runners of the Walk were dismissed at the entrance of Griffith Park at 9 am, and the rest of the students and faculty were released shortly after. At 11 am, the students enjoyed Pink’s Hot Dogs for lunch on the quad. Pink’s Hot Dogs, an iconic restaurant of Los Angeles, also celebrated its 80th anniversary with us.
When interviewed about the Walk, Maya Matthews, the school’s ASB president, has said, “I love how it brings everyone together. The entire Immaculate Heart community is able to get away from the usual school work for a day and spend time walking, talking, and bonding with one another. I think the Walk is an important part of what makes our school unique and what brings us together as Pandas.”
Overall, it was a very nice day, and I enjoyed it very much as I do every year. I think the Walk is something that I will miss the most from Immaculate Heart after I graduate because of all the memorable moments that it has brought me.
Jennie Kim, Grade 12
Immaculate Heart High School
