More than 700 students at Scotch Elementary School put their best foot forward Wednesday as they participated in the school’s sixth-annual FunD Run, the PTO’s main fund-raiser.

Each student, along with some teachers, ran laps for 20 minutes as parents, teachers and administrators cheered them on.

The more laps they ran, the more money they raised for their school, as the students sought per-lap pledges before the race started. The school’s goal is $40,000. As an incentive, Principal James Scrivo will shave his head if they reach the goal.

Proceeds this year will fund multiple character education initiatives that target bullying. The PTO also plans to pay for leading-edge classroom technology at a school with some of the highest MEAP scores in Oakland County.

Fifth grader Jillian Ladouceur, 10, of West Bloomfield, has participated in three other Scotch FunD Runs but this one was her favorite because for the first time ever she was allowed on the track to cheer when the second graders, who are new to the school, took a turn around the make-shift track.

Scotch, which serves children in grades 2-5, has introduced a new “buddy” program this year that teams a fifth grader with a second grader. The older buddies act as a support system to make the younger ones feel welcomed at Scotch.

“It felt good to be out there because our buddies would run by and look up and see us and you could tell they liked knowing someone,” Ladouceur said.

Lyndsey Cooper, 10, of Orchard Lake agrees. “It was fun to be out there giving them high-fives and I was so impressed because some of these kids were running faster than I’ve ever seen in my life,” she said.

Scotch parent Hunza Lodhi, of Commerce Township, was impressed with the participants' enthusiasm. “The kids look forward to this and you can tell they are enjoying themselves because they are laughing and smiling,” she said.

“They also know it’s for a good cause and they like to help because they have seen firsthand how it improves the school.”