December 9, 2025

For its second year, Hughson Elementary School opens its doors to parents and family members for an annual Thanksgiving-themed jog-a-thon held right before the weeklong break. The event shifts the long-running spring jog-a-thon to autumn with a twist.

All Hughson Elementary students participate in the Turkey Trot. They run on one of the two tracks set up for the occasion and work to earn prizes for the most laps run, the biggest fund-raiser and greatest class participation. Prizes included a T-shirt matching the day of the event, bracelets, Smencils, homework passes, and a BMX Bike Assembly to be held in the spring. Students also earned enough to see Vice Principal Jorge Pinedo and Principal Megan Reisz dress up in turkey costumes for the event.

A team arrived early the day of the event to work with groundskeepers to set up the two tracks. They lined the entrances with yard signs, purchased and decorated by parents, to cheer on their runners.

The DJ arrived, along with another slew of volunteers to mark the runners' laps, to be at the helm of the bubble machines, and provide extra support and cheerleaders for the runners. Some volunteers manned the water tables assigned to each class, making sure everyone stayed hydrated.

On that crisp Friday morning, each grade dashed out onto the track through inflatable Hughson Elementary Black and Gold arches. TK ran from 9 to 9:30 a.m., Kindergarten from 9:40 to 10:10 a.m., First Grade from 10:15 to 10:55 a.m., Second Grade from 11 to 11:40 a.m., and Third Grade closed the morning with their run from 11:45 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.

Mush the HES mascot, parents, and family members lined the fences and track to cheer runners on throughout the morning. As the time neared its end, the countdown began. Music, silly string, and laughter filled the air to celebrate the finish. The runners regrouped to receive a well-deserved Otter Pop.

The Turkey Trot raises money for the Hughson Elementary Parent Teacher Club. The Parent Teacher Club pays for Hughson Elementary School field trips, organizes the Play Day at the end of the school year, funds special school projects and helps enhance the learning experience at Hughson Elementary School in many ways.

In the end, the fundraiser raised over $41,000 for the Parent Teacher Club to fund enrichment activities throughout the year for Hughson Elementary School students.

Additional support for the Turkey Trot came from local sponsors, including The Fruit Barn, Salon Two Zero Nine, Princess Pastries, SC Fuels, DOT, and Mo’s Oasis and Grill.