Middlebrook students and PTA celebrated the fruits of their labor when they cut the ribbon on the school’s new playground last Friday, April 24. The playground was something they were able to raise enough funds to buy–with some help from the wider Wilton community–and have installed in less than a year.
“This is what the kids told us that they wanted, and they made it happen,” said Middlebrook PTA president Savet Constantine. The school and PTA held focus groups with students after learning that the kids felt there was nothing to do at recess and the activity park idea grew out of that.
The majority of the funding was raised by students through a wrapping paper and gift sales fundraiser, which kicked-off last fall. The other Wilton PTAs helped chip in, knowing all Wilton children would benefit at some point. In addition, the Turnover Shop, which typically donates funds to all the PTAs each year, added some extra funding to help the project hit its goal.
As students gathered outside for the ribbon cutting just before the start of the school day, Middlebrook principal Maria Coleman thanked them for making their own dream a reality, and then she congratulated Constantine and the two other PTA parents–fundraising chair Laura Kirkpatrick and PTA vice president Pam Hickey–who got the project started and made sure it was the priority.
“There’s a quote from Margaret Mead I think really fits here: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has,’” Coleman told the students.
The park was designed to be age-appropriate and on its first day of use, Middlebrook phys ed teachers helped the kids see how they could use the equipment to help develop upper body strength and endurance–as well as to have fun.
And fun was definitely had, as one student said the playground was completely packed at recess. “Everyone was trying to get on it,” he said.
