Gator Gallop

Gator Gallop 2024

Are you ready to run?

Our 2024 Gator Gallop is this Saturday, April 6th! Here's everything you need to know to have a great time.


Registration and materials.
If you’ve registered, great! You can avoid the lines and pick up your bibs during early check-in on Friday 4/5 from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the back lot of the Greenwood School (inside the school if it's raining). Otherwise, you can grab your bibs on Saturday morning at the Lake.

Online registration for all runners closes Tuesday 4/2at 7 p.m. If you haven't registered yourself or your child by then, you’ll need to register in person the morning of the event. Registration the day of the event is $35 for the 5K and $10 for the 1-mile Kids Run.

Do we need anything other than our sneakers?
>Greenwood students are encouraged to wear their Greenwood class t-shirts for easy identification during the 1-mile Kids Run (teachers will send them home this week). Kids will get a stick-on bib number that should be visible on their front. This may mean sticking the bib to a jacket if it’s chilly. Both shirts and bibs will help us identify the 1-mile race winners.

>We will have the Town of Wakefield Water Buggy again this year, so bring your refillable water bottles to fill up!

>You’ll also want to bring some cash or a credit card because our Gator Gallop Raffle is better than ever this year, thanks to our generous sponsors!

Tell me about the Logistics.
Check-in, the start and finish lines, music, raffles, and refreshments — all happen on the Lower Common (by the bandstand). Check out the schedule of events to view all the fun your family will experience.

Race Day Check-in starts at 8:15 a.m. The Kids Warmup is at 8:30 and the 1-Mile Run begins at 9:00. Students will run the 1-Mile race without parents. We will have parent volunteers on the course keeping a close eye on the kids and ensuring everyone finishes safely. Please refrain from running on the course! View the 1-Mile course map and volunteer needs here.

In order to correctly identify the student winners, we will have volunteers stationed at the finish line. Greenwood teachers will be a few feet behind these “judges,” awarding medals to the kids upon completion of the race. There will be photo opportunities elsewhere, so please do not enter the roped area and crowd the finish line. Instead, meet your children after they have received their medals.

The 5K begins at 9:30, and winners of both races will be announced, and prizes awarded, beginning around 10 a.m.

Raffle winners will be drawn starting at 10:45 - watch in person or on Facebook Live!

What about the Student Pledge Drive Prizes?
We know the kids are eager to get their incentives and find out if they won one of the top prizes. Winners of Principal for the Day, P.E. Teacher for the Day, and the class participation prize will be announced with in the week after the Gallop. Those who raised enough money for the incentives will receive their prizes in a few weeks once we have everything ready to distribute. Remember, online pledges are open through April 6th and every dollar raised counts towards incentives!

Do you still need help?
Yes! Race day volunteers are needed, especially for early morning setup, parent volunteers for the 1-mile run and setting up the refreshment station. Please email us with questions.

Support our Gallop sponsors.
We strongly encourage you to frequent our Gator Gallop sponsors--the companies that have made our fundraising event possible. Many of them have connections to Greenwood School families. Get to know our sponsors here.

Gator Gallop 2024

Are you ready to run?

Our 2023 Gator Gallop is this Saturday, April 1st! Here's everything you need to know to have a great time.


Registration and materials.
If you’ve registered, great! You can avoid the lines and pick up your bibs during early check-in on Friday 4/5 from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the back lot of the Greenwood School (inside the school if it's raining). Otherwise, you can grab your bibs on Saturday morning at the Lake.

Online registration for all runners closes Tuesday 4/2 at 7 p.m. If you haven't registered yourself or your child by then, you’ll need to register in-person the morning of the event. Registration the day of the event is $35 for the 5K and $10 for the 1-mile Kids Run.

Do we need anything other than our sneakers?
>Greenwood students are encouraged to wear their Greenwood class t-shirts for easy identification during the 1-mile Kids Run (teachers will send them home this week). Kids will get a stick-on bib number that should be visible on their front. This may mean sticking the bib to a jacket if it’s chilly. Both shirts and bibs will help us identify the 1-mile race winners.

>We will have the Town of Wakefield Water Buggy this year, so bring your refillable water bottles to fill up!

>You’ll also want to bring some cash or a credit card because our Gator Gallop Raffle is better than ever this year, thanks to our generous sponsors!

>INspire Cafe will be on hand selling coffee and other treats.

Tell me about the Logistics.
Check-in, the start and finish lines, music, raffles and refreshments — it all happens on the Lower Common (by the bandstand). Check out the schedule of events to view all the fun your family will experience.

Race Day Check-in starts at 8:15 a.m. The Kids Warmup is at 8:30 and the 1-Mile Run begins at 9:00. Students will run the 1-Mile race without parents. We will have parent volunteers on the course keeping a close eye on the kids and ensuring everyone finishes safely. Please refrain from running on the course!

In order to correctly identify the student winners, we will have volunteers stationed at the finish line. Greenwood teachers will be a few feet behind these “judges,” awarding medals to the kids upon completion of the race. There will be photo opportunities elsewhere, so please do not enter the roped area and crowd the finish line. Instead, meet your children after they have received their medals.

The 5K begins at 9:30, and winners of both races will be announced, and prizes awarded, beginning around 10 a.m.

Raffle winners will be drawn starting at 10:45 - watch in person or on Facebook Live!

What about the Student Pledge Drive Prizes?
We know the kids are eager to get their incentive prizes and find out if they won one of the top prizes. Winners of Principal for the Day, P.E. Teacher for the Day, and the class participation prize will be announced with in the week after the Gallop (parents of these students will be contacted). Those who raised enough money for the incentives will receive their prizes in a few weeks once we have everything ready to distribute. Remember, the online pledge portal is open through April 6th and every dollar raised counts towards incentives!

Do you still need help?
Yes! Race day volunteers are needed,, especially for early morning setup, parent volunteers for the 1-mile run and setting up the refreshment station. Please email us with questions.

Support our Gallop sponsors.
We strongly encourage you to frequent our Gator Gallop sponsors--the companies that have made our fundraising event possible. Many of them have connections to Greenwood School families. Get to know our sponsors here.

From the Principal: 3/27/23

From the Principal: 3/27/23

Principal Back reminds families about this Wednesday’s early release for conferences; hopes to see many families at Saturday’s Gator Gallop; shares the Food Rescue Program volunteer signup and the lunch volunteer signup; and shares district info about this week’s Kindergarten Virtual Information Night and next week’s Virtual and Performing Arts Day and Night.

Gator Gallop 2022

Are you ready to run?

Our 2022 Gator Gallop is next Saturday, April 9th! Here's everything you need to know to have a great time.


Registration and materials.
If you’ve registered, great! You can avoid the lines and pick up your bibs during early check-in on Friday 4/8 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the back lot of the Greenwood School (inside the school if it's raining). Otherwise, you can grab your bibs on Saturday morning at the Lake.

Online registration for all runners closes Tuesday 4/5 at 7 p.m. If you haven't registered yourself or your child by then, you’ll need to register in-person the morning of the event. Registration the day of the event is $35 for the 5K and $10 for the 1-mile Kids Run.

Do we need anything other than our sneakers?
>Greenwood students are encouraged to wear their Greenwood class t-shirts for easy identification during the 1-mile Kids Run. The stick-on bib numbers should also be visible, on the front. This may mean adhering the bib to a coat if it’s chilly. Both of these will help us identify the 1-mile race winners.

>This year we will have the MWRA’s Water Buggy, so bring your refillable water bottles to fill up!

>You’ll also want to bring some cash or a credit card because our Gator Gallop Raffle is better than ever this year, thanks to our generous sponsors!

Tell me about the Logistics.
Check-in, the start and finish lines, music, raffles and refreshments — it all happens on the Lower Common (by the bandstand). Check out the schedule of events to view all the fun your family will experience.

Race Day Check-in starts at 8:15 a.m. The Kids Warmup is at 8:30 and the 1-Mile Run begins at 9:00. Students will run the 1-Mile race without their parents. We will have parent volunteers on the course keeping a close eye on the kids and ensuring everyone finishes safely. Please refrain from running on the course.

In order to correctly identify the student winners, we will have volunteers stationed at the finish line. Greenwood teachers will be a few feet behind these “judges,” awarding medals to the kids upon completion of the race. There will be photo opportunities elsewhere, so please do not enter the roped area and crowd the finish line. Instead, meet your children after they have received their medals.

The 5K begins at 9:30, and winners of both races will be announced, and prizes awarded, beginning around 10 a.m.

From 9:30-10:30, Gallop sponsor Pedro’s Judo Center presents two-time Olympian Kelita Zupancic, a former international athlete from Canada who now lives in Wakefield with her husband and baby. She will be available to take pictures and sign autographs.

Around 10:30, dancers from Gallop sponsor Dance Track Studio will perform two routines.

What about the Student Pledge Drive Prizes?
We know the kids are eager to get their Greenwood water bottles and Wakefield shirts, and find out if they won one of the top prizes. Winners of Principal for the Day, P.E. Teacher for the Day, and the class participation prize will be announced on the Monday after the Gallop (parents of these students will be contacted). Those who raised enough money for the incentives will receive their prizes in a few weeks once we have everything ready to distribute. Remember, the online pledge portal is open through April 9th and every dollar raised counts towards incentives!

Do you still need help?
Yes! Race day volunteers are needed, especially for early morning setup, parent volunteers for the 1-mile run and monitoring the refreshment station. Please let us know if you can help.

Support our Gallop sponsors.
We strongly encourage you to frequent our Gator Gallop sponsors--the companies that have made our fundraising event possible. Many of them have connections to Greenwood School families. Get to know our sponsors here.

Gator Gallop Virtual Raffle

Our Virtual Gator Gallop Raffle will run from May 1-23. View the 25 amazing items up for grabs here, then visit the Raffle Tickets page to purchase tickets and enter the raffles—raffle tickets are 4 for $10.

Raffles will be open until 5pm on Sunday, May 23rd. Drawings will take place the evening of May 23rd and will be announced on the Greenwood PTO Facebook page and on our website.

UPDATE: Gator Gallop 5K and Kids’ Fun Run/Pledge Drive

We have made the necessary decision to officially cancel this year’s 7th annual Gator Gallop 5K, which was to be held on April 4th. However, in an effort to provide an opportunity for our students, especially this year’s 4th graders, to have the Gator Gallop experience, we will still be holding our Student Pledge Drive and Kids’ 1-Mile Fun Run — virtually, of course! Read this post for all the details.