Students finally get to enjoy their new playground after waiting for two years.

Despite temperatures dipping into the low 50s on Friday night, teachers camped out on the playground at Curtis Elementary had no complaints. After all, their dream had just become a reality.

On October 3, staff at Curtis dedicated their brand-new playground, marking a successful finish to two years of fundraising by students, teachers, parents, and the Chester community.

“It was all done with a promise that if the kids at Curtis reached for the stars to fund the project, the teachers would sleep under the stars to celebrate their hard work,” says Tina Seal, P.E. teacher at Curtis. “This shows that if you want to do something, all you have to do is try.”

Hoping to update their 20-year old existing playground, Curtis got their first push towards a new playground in the spring of 2007 when Matthew Monarez, then a fifth-grader, won Nickelodeon’s “Let’s Just Play” playground makeover contest. That $5,000 prize from Nickelodeon spurred an intense fundraising drive as school officials looked to raise an additional $25,000 for the equipment and $9,000 for fencing around the new playground.

“It sounds expensive, but is definitely worth it. So many kids will be able to use it, and it will last a long time, so it really is worth the investment,” says Seal.

While $34,000 was a steep goal, Curtis students jumped straight into the fundraising drive, furiously working to get their playground built. Over the past two years, students and faculty conducted peanut and cookie dough sales, sold T-shirts and raffle tickets, and hosted Ci-Ci’s , Chick-fil-A, and Skateland nights. They also instituted a penny-a-vote system to vote for the cover of their 2007-2008 yearbook, raising over $500 in that effort alone.

Along with these efforts, students got plenty of extra help through community support. Curtis parent Lisa Storey led a corporate sponsorship program, receiving overwhelming support from the Chester community.

“This was the truest community project,” says Teressa Clary, Principal at Curtis. “The community truly came together to make this happen.”

Businesses who donated to the fundraising effort included Buchanan & Rice Contractors, Chester Family Medcare, Chester Chick-fil-A, Civitan Club of Chester, Custom Investigative Services, D.B. Storey, Inc.; Delta Graphics, Family Dentistry, Huntington Learning Center, Industrial Welding & Mechanical, J.T. Morris & Son Funeral Home, Just the Thing, Kiwanis Club of Chester, Kiwanis Club of Central Chesterfield, L.S. Lee, Inc.; Little Red School House, Magellan Terminals Holdings, Moment in Time Photography, Mormando & Associates, Nationwide, Old Stage Inc., Parrish Construction Services, Richard L. Crowder Construction, Rotary Club of Chester, the Thomas Tinsley Foundation, Liscents Candle Co., Patton’s Auto & Tire, Sand Creations, Creative Memories, and Holiday Signs.

“Local businesses flooded Curtis with support. Even though it was marketed as a business sponsorship, many local families donated money as well. Through the fundraising activities, we have seen how it takes a village to raise a child, and the village of Chester has supported us the whole way,” says Seal.

While everyone at Curtis was glad to finally see and try out their new playground, the true test comes from the students, a test the playground passed with flying colors.

“I like it; it’s fun,” says third grader Devin Storey. “I like the twisty slide the best.”

nderatto@villagepublishing.com | 751-0421

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