Thunderbird elementary kindergarten teacher Janey Lee led two workshops for colleagues this week. The workshops concerned the shift to full-day kindergarten, but the cause was to raise money to buy the East Side school a playground.
The old playground was torn down in the summer of 2009 and parents and staff have struggled to collect funds to replace it. The school applied for grants, but was turned down. Playgrounds can cost $30,000 to $100,000. The district isn't able to cover the cost, so it's up to schools to raise the money.
Lee staged similar teacher workshops in past years with proceeds going towards literacy materials and math and science. After the old playground was removed, she offered to do so again to help pay for a replacement. Other staff stepped in on their summer holiday to help out, including another kindergarten teacher, the principal, the inner city project teacher, and the school's secretary. Lee noted the school's principal Henry Peters has worked hard to find grants to apply for and has been a "huge support."
"I've been at the school for 13 years now. I was born and raised in East Vancouver, so I've always wanted to stay teaching in East Van," Lee said. "There are a lot of us who've been here for over 10 years."
Teachers signed up for the summer workshops, paying $200, some from their own pocket, to participate on their own time.
Businesses nearby, including Starbucks, Wal-Mart, which adopted the school, Staples and Save on Foods, sponsored the workshops this year. Over two summers, Thunderbird has generated a combined total of $25,000 through the workshop effort, but still hopes to raise more money for phase two of the playground plans.
The school is taking advantage of a 30 per cent off sale that ends this week to buy playground equipment for phase one of its playground project. The equipment is priced regularly at $30,000 and includes two slides and climbing apparatus and should be installed this fall.
First Nation artist Art Bolton, who has a granddaughter at the school, carved a Thunderbird totem at the school as his contribution. Other families and staff have done their part as well. Longtime teacher Cathy Abercrombie-now known as Cathy Brister King-asked for playground donations in lieu of gifts at her summer wedding. A teacher-on-call heard about the school's plight and sent in a cheque. Kitchener school parents bought Christmas ornaments made by Thunderbird students and Thunderbird's parent group staged snack sales.
The school of 300, at 2325 Cassiar St., is located across from a large social housing project in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»and has a diverse student body, including immigrants and refugees from countries around the world. Some families have single parents, many have tight budgets. The school tries to hold only one fundraiser annually, so as not to tax the community too much.
Kindergarten teacher Camilla Ting said everyone's generosity has been amazing. One parent offered to bring in tools to put up the playground once it arrives. A mother donated $50. "She said, 'This is what I can contribute,'" Ting said. "I know for a living she does piece-work sewing at home, so for her financial situation to be able to give $50 is quite significant."
Ting maintains playgrounds are a crucial for schools. "For kids, it's part of growing up."
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