Monday, 26 September 2011 12:05
Above, West School kids at play on the new back playground following the ceremony.
Bright, shiny new play equipment, climbing nets, roller slides, sensory panels, overhead climbers, and a 96-inch tower slide — these are among features of the two new playgrounds installed before the start of the year at West School, the result of a successful fund-raising campaign by the school’s Parent Teacher Council.
Last Sunday, September 18, parents, administrators, teachers and students celebrated the project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the school’s back-to-school ice cream social.
“The new playgrounds are a great example of what can be accomplished when good and committed people work together toward a common goal,” said PTC President Sheri West.
Each year, West and the other elementary schools’ PTCs work with teachers and administrators to identify a capital improvement or academic enhancement not included in the regular budget, West said.
“In prior years, we raised money for a piano for the music room, for weather stations for the science room, for SMART Boards for the classrooms and a rock climbing wall for the gym,” she said. “This campaign [for the playgrounds], has been very successful.”
From left, West School Principal Dr. Jill Correnty joins Westy the Whale and Assistant Principal JoAnne LaVista at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and official opening of school’s new playgrounds, made possible by fund-raising efforts through the Parent-Teacher Council.
The playground project was identified as a need several years ago, because the old, wooden structures were outdated — approximately 15 years old. West said that while the PTC began discussing a new playground, because of the economic conditions, it was put off until recently, when the council revitalized the effort.
“We initially kicked it off as a multi-year, fund-raising project, but through the very generous support of our parent community, we reached our target and we were able to accomplish everything we dreamed of this summer,” West said.
The PTC enlisted input from teachers on the kind of equipment they thought the students would enjoy.
“The teachers know how the kids play,” West said.
A committee of parent representatives, teachers and administrators went out and visited playgrounds to identify best practices for equipment. They researched equipment vendors, and with the help of the district’s resources, had the equipment installed.
“The district helped demolish and install the new playgrounds,” West said. “The kids then ‘tested’ the equipment, and now everyone is just thrilled with the results.”
In addition to the actual playgrounds, the PTC was able to install new basketball hoops, a new black top surface and a brand new walking path for the school’s Mileage Club. The club, in which 70% of students in grades two through four participate, promotes physical fitness, wellness and friendship, and offers a fitness goal for students to accomplish, according to West. During recess the kids do laps: five laps represents a mile, and he or she receives a token for each mile completed. For bigger milestones — 10 to 20 miles, or more — students receive certificates of achievement.
Now, instead of walking the grass perimeter of the field, the kids can walk a path of stepping stones, each of which is engraved with a West School character trait.
“Our parents are just so generous,” West said. “It’s just a great thing for the community.”
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