Here's a little more nostalgia. Our first year in our new building, there was no real playground. We had an area designated for playing, but there was no equipment. Lots of pebbles and dirt, but no equipment.
The second year, one of our staff members took on the responsibility of organizing a playground build. She arranged for a company to come in to design and build a playground for our kids.
The company came in, talked to our students and asked them what they wanted on THEIR playground. Students drew pictures of what equipment they wanted to be able to use. For my students this was especially exciting because they'd spent the previous year running around outside during recess among rocks and dirt.
Building began in October. So the kids still had about a month of playing on a pebble-filled dirt-ground. A weekend project was arranged when people from the community came in to volunteer and help us build a playground. There was a great deal of excitement. There were teachers (of course), business professionals, fathers, and mothers who all volunteered to help create this special place for our students.
I vividly recall pushing a wheelbarrow full of concrete mix around back there while others drilled, hammered, and cut wood. During the playground build, I used my first electric sander! I was so proud of myself!
Moreover, I remember the relationships that were fostered during this time. I remember laughing and joking with parents that I may never have had a chance to speak to on that level. Although Daniel's father never finished the tube microphone that was designed, it was fun trying to put it together and to get the thing to work.
Again, this was a special place: a place where families came and helped build the school. A place where teachers stayed late even though they did not have to.
We (the adults) were so excited once everything was put together and the wood chips were finally blown into place. I did do a real-live cartwheel. We tested out the bumpy slide for the kids. My co-workers pushed each other on the swings.
The Monday that the playground "opened" was full of excitement! Because my classroom had the greatest aerial view of the playground, the kids could hardly stay away from the windows. As soon as the doors opened for my class at recess, it was like watching a movie in slow motion: huge smiles, kids screaming with excitement, running toward the spiral slide, the zip-line, the swings, the tire swing, the monkey bars, the obstacle course, the music chimes and the outdoor classroom. And as cliche as it sounds, the moment was indeed magical.
The second year, one of our staff members took on the responsibility of organizing a playground build. She arranged for a company to come in to design and build a playground for our kids.
The company came in, talked to our students and asked them what they wanted on THEIR playground. Students drew pictures of what equipment they wanted to be able to use. For my students this was especially exciting because they'd spent the previous year running around outside during recess among rocks and dirt.
Building began in October. So the kids still had about a month of playing on a pebble-filled dirt-ground. A weekend project was arranged when people from the community came in to volunteer and help us build a playground. There was a great deal of excitement. There were teachers (of course), business professionals, fathers, and mothers who all volunteered to help create this special place for our students.
I vividly recall pushing a wheelbarrow full of concrete mix around back there while others drilled, hammered, and cut wood. During the playground build, I used my first electric sander! I was so proud of myself!
Moreover, I remember the relationships that were fostered during this time. I remember laughing and joking with parents that I may never have had a chance to speak to on that level. Although Daniel's father never finished the tube microphone that was designed, it was fun trying to put it together and to get the thing to work.
Again, this was a special place: a place where families came and helped build the school. A place where teachers stayed late even though they did not have to.
We (the adults) were so excited once everything was put together and the wood chips were finally blown into place. I did do a real-live cartwheel. We tested out the bumpy slide for the kids. My co-workers pushed each other on the swings.
The Monday that the playground "opened" was full of excitement! Because my classroom had the greatest aerial view of the playground, the kids could hardly stay away from the windows. As soon as the doors opened for my class at recess, it was like watching a movie in slow motion: huge smiles, kids screaming with excitement, running toward the spiral slide, the zip-line, the swings, the tire swing, the monkey bars, the obstacle course, the music chimes and the outdoor classroom. And as cliche as it sounds, the moment was indeed magical.