Register and donate to the Mini Olympics today!!
See current fundraising progress at the link.
Come to the Mini Olympics! All guests are welcome: a fun and healthy way to get our bodies active and raise much needed funds for the many programs that make Jose Ortega great like science and art programs, teacher support, recess monitors, student enrichment activities, school greening and more.
Goal: $20,000!
The Mini Olympics will take place on Friday, October 9. Each grade will have a specific time to meet in the schoolyard and complete various exercise activities and obstacles, which are designed to be more fun than strenuous to get everyone moving.
Mini-Olympic Events:
PreK, TK – Running/walking, Dance
K – Running/walking, Dance, Soccer
1st - 5th– Running/walking, Dance, Soccer, Bean Bag Toss
Session Time
08:00 - 08:30 Kindergarten
08:30 - 08:45 Pre-K and TK
08:45 - 09:15 1st
10:20 - 10:50 2nd
10:50 - 11:20 4th
12:45 - 01:15 3rd
01:20 - 01:50 5th*
* Includes Mr. Gerbic's Class (4/5 split, Room 205)
How to participate:
Register/donate on http://pledgestar.com/joseortega and create a pledge page. The whole process takes less than 5 minutes! (See below for instructions.)
Send emails and text messages of your student's unique fundraising link through PledgeStar to your family and friends so that they can support your student.
VOLUNTEER!
Sign up to volunteer on the day of the event! Volunteers will receive a free shirt, while supplies last!
Prizes:
Each week for the three weeks of the Mini-Olympics, every student who raises $50 or more or sends out 5 or more PledgeStar emails or text messages will be entered into a lottery for a $25 boba gift card. There will be a winner/drawing each week. All Pledgestar emails/texts must be sent by Friday of each week (and cash/check received) to be entered into raffles.
Classes with 75% participation will win their class’s chosen prize! It could be extra recess, a movie day, or even a popsicle party! All classes with 100% participation will win a pizza party as well!
School prize if we meet our fundraising goal (100% participation, $20,000, or both) - a week with no homework!
The student who sends the most pledge requests overall will receive their choice of a very special prize - LEGO Smart Play Pokémon Training House, Fujifilm Mini Instant Camera, Razor Scooter with LED Lights, or Electronic Chess Set with Smart Coach.
Questions? Email walkathon@joseortegaschool.org
Thank you from your 2026 Mini Olympics Team!
Joanna Sturges (mom to Alden (3rd grade) and Juniper (1st grade))
Emily Kaehler (mom to Naomi (3rd grade) and Micah (K))
Carlos Villicana (dad to Isla (2nd grade) and Luca (TK))
Lisa Yang (mom to Kaymus (3rd grade))
Nancy Gee (mom to Satya (K))
DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR DONATIONS
1. How to get started on PledgeStar:
Click "Not Registered For This Year's Event" (you need to register for this year's fundraiser even if you already signed up for Pledgestar in previous years)
Enter your name and email address, then click "Submit"
Follow the instructions on-screen to register student(s) and add family and friends. If you have more than 1 child at JOES, you need to add each child so that classroom participation is captured correctly
When you finish, the system emails pledge requests to your family and friends, and allows them to make secure donations online. You get notified each time a pledge is made, and you can track your pledge progress online.
For help with Pledgestar, please reach out to Emily Kaehler (emily.kaehler@gmail.com or 612-360-4632).
2. DOUBLE YOUR DONATION WITH CORPORATE MATCHING!
Check and see if your employer participates in Corporate Matching! Corporate matches can be recorded on PledgeStar.
Jose Ortega Elementary School PTA Tax ID / EIN: 94-3190930
3. Donation via check - preferred method of receiving money because it has no associated fees. Select 'Check' when making your donation on PledgeStar. It will give you a tracking number to add to the info line on your check. You can mail the check to the below address or give it to your teacher. All checks should be made payable to Jose Ortega PTA.
4. Cash donations - also a preferred method of donation because it has no associated fees. Please place cash in an envelope with your student's name and give it to your teacher.
Attn: Jose Ortega Elementary School PTA
c/o PTA Treasurer
400 Sargent Street
San Francisco CA 94132