PLUNGE GUIDE: Frozen Magothy Marlins Continue Sixth Cool Schools Plunge

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By Maya Pottiger

For the last two years, Magothy River Middle School has been the top fundraising middle school in Maryland for the Cool Schools Plunge.

Deborah Cameron, a special education teacher, and Bryan Godfrey, a physical education teacher, head the fundraiser at MRMS.

“This community, it supports the Plunge incredibly,” Cameron said. “I’m just amazed how much they support the Plunge.”

Last year, MRMS raised more than $26,000 and had roughly 180 students take the Plunge. This year, their goal is to raise $30,000 and have 200 students plunge on January 24.

“It is a fun way to give back,” Godfrey said. “It’s a unique experience where they can be around all their friends from not only our school but [also] older siblings at Broadneck and friends at other middle schools doing something for a really good cause.”

Each student must raise a minimum of $75 to participate in the Plunge. While Cameron and Godfrey have brainstormed ways to encourage students to fundraise, they’ve found that the students are self-motivated.

“We have a certain special ed population here that’s really embraced by the kids,” Godfrey said. “I see it in P.E. all the time. We really just support people who need it.”

This is the sixth year that MRMS has participated in the Cool Schools Plunge. Cameron and Godfrey took over the Frozen Magothy Marlins team last year.

In its first year, only 70 or 80 kids participated. “It’s cool to see how it’s grown over the years,” Godfrey said. “It went from a new thing four or five years ago where everyone wasn’t exactly sure what it was going to look like, and now it’s one of our school’s proudest traditions.”

The Cool Schools Plunge is important because it teaches compassion, work ethic and getting out of your comfort zone, according to Godfrey. “It broadens their horizon of how they can give back. It shows compassion toward those who are less fortunate,” she said. “We have a very athletic community here, and most of them don’t have to think twice about just being able to play for a team or having equipment. For them to understand how difficult it is for other people to participate in that stuff is a valuable lesson.”

To donate to Magothy River Middle School’s Cool Schools Plunge team, visit the Polar Bear Plunge website and search for “Frozen Magothy Marlins.” The Cool Schools Plunge takes place on Thursday, January 24.

Polar Bear Plunge Guide

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