“Play For The Playground” Was A Great Way To Raise Funds

Blue  skies,  sunshine,  the  inviting  aroma  of  hot  dogs  being  cooked  on  the  grill  wafting  through  the  air,  and  lots  of  games  to  play  and  other  activities  to  participate  in  made  for  a  really  wonderful,  well-­‐attended,  two-­‐hour  “Play  For  the  Playground”  carnival  at  Perkins  School  June  12th.

Creatively  planned  by  the  PTA,  $1,550  was  raised  at  the  event  that  will  be  used  to  help  purchase  some  additional  equipment  for  the  playground  on  the  north  side  of  the  school  parking  lot.

Funds  were  raised  through  the  purchase  of  tickets  that  were  used  to  not  only  purchase  hot  dogs,  chips  and  beverages,  but  to  play  up  to  18  games  and  at  the  face  painting  and  tattoo  station  _  all  set  up  in  the  bus-­‐loop  area  behind  the  Pre-­‐K  through  second  grade  school.

Everyone  seemed  to  be  fully  engaged  with  the  activities.Kelley  School  physical  education  teacher  Ashley  

Stoughton  and  member  of  the  Perkins  PTA  suggested  a  carnival-­‐like  fundraising  event  be  held  at  the  school  after  seeing  a  similar  one  held  in  the  Waterloo  school  district  two  years  ago.

The  Perkins  PTA  thought  it  would  be  a  great  way  to  raise  money  for  the  school  playground.

Stoughton  estimated  between  200  and  250  people  attended  the  event.

“It’s  was  a  beautiful  night.  It  was  great  to  see  so  many  out  at  an  event  that  got  families  out  together.  There  were  people  of  all  ages  and  a  lot  of  people  mingling.  I  think  everyone  liked  the  idea  because  it  was  for  a  good  cause  and  people  like  to  support  a  great  cause.  Also,  one  of  the  things  our  district  is  working  on  is  to  promote  greater  community  involvement  in  our  schools  and  the  carnival  was  great  way  to  do  that.  I  think  we  will  try  to  do  one  every  year,’’  she  said.

Perkins  PTA  thanked  everyone  who  helped  make  the  event  such  a  success,  including  about  10  high  school-­‐age  students  who  help  set  up    the  event,  worked  at  game  stations  and  performed  other  tasks.

“The  PTA  did  an  amazing  job  organizing  this  family  event,”  Perkins  Principal  Sue  Achille  said.  “The  kids  had  a  blast  playing  the  games  and  spending  time  with  their  families  and  it  wasn't  about  winning  prizes,  just  about  having  fun.  They  raised  $1,550,  so  that  will  really  help  with  the  purchase  of  some  new  playground  equipment.”

Additional  equipment  is  needed  for  the  playground  on  the  north  side  of  the  school  parking  lot  because  its  current  capacity  only  allows  one  of  the  school’s  25  classes  at  a  time  to  use  it.  That  means  that  in  good  weather,  only  a  few  classes  each  day  get  to  use  it  during  their  daily  20-­‐minute  recess  time.  Teachers  take  turns  using  that  playground  with  their  classes  and  must  sign  up  to  do  so.  

New  playground  equipment  is  needed  for  the  playground  on  the  southeast  side  of  the  school.  Much  of  its  equipment  was  removed  in  the  fall  of  2017  because  it  had  fallen  into  a  state  of  disrepair.

Ed  Gnau,  Assistant  Superintendent  for  Business,  said  the  school  district  is  hoping  to  receive  State  Education  Department  approval  to  use  some  funds  resulting  from  lower  bids  in  the  Wirst  two  phases  of  the  current  capital  project  to  purchase  new  playground  equipment  for  the  southeast  side  of  the  school  under  a  third  phase  of  the  capital  project.  With  approval,  the  new  equipment  would  be  purchased  and  installed  sometime  during  the  2019-­‐2020  school  year.