JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A new school year brings new teachers, new opportunities to learn—and at Roosevelt Elementary School, brand new playground equipment and a walking track. The PTO celebrated the completion of construction with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, August 20.
Composed of parents, grandparents, teachers and staff, the Roosevelt PTO was reestablished just five years ago. According to former PTO president and current member Jennifer Sundeen, the organization has since been working to support and enrich the student experience.
“One of the biggest goals of the PTO came to fruition this past summer as the old playground equipment was taken out and replaced with a new, inclusive playset,” said Sundeen.
The new equipment is one of the only play sets in Stutsman County with accessibility features allowing for adaptive play. Although the price of the equipment required greater fundraising efforts, Sundeen said the benefits of more inclusive equipment outweigh the costs.
“Our goal is to continue to add equipment that supports ALL students,” said Sundeen. “We will continue fundraising, and our next goal is to add swings, including an accessible swing.”
The play set was purchased from Grondahl Recreation, Inc and features equipment that gives children the opportunity to climb, slide, spin, play learning games and more.
PTO member and first grade teacher Amanda Schaffer explained the importance of playground equipment at schools: “Providing children with opportunities for unstructured play is crucial. It benefits their physical health, yes, but it also enhances their academic performance. When kids have regular, short breaks for free play, they tend to focus better on their schoolwork. Additionally, recess can have a calming effect, aiding in managing behavioral issues and impulse control.”
The new walking track is paved, with one lap measuring roughly 1/10th of a mile.
“The walking track will be used during recess and PE for walking, biking, roller blading, etc,” said Sundeen. “We will be registering each student in a walking program to track how many miles they walk. We can then track how many miles we have walked around the world as the program continues throughout the years.”
The PTO said the new equipment was made possible thanks to PTO fundraising efforts, community support and support from the JPS School District through a matching funds program.
“In a small community like Jamestown, we know school equipment serves a greater population. Thank you so much to everyone who donated to make this playset and walking track possible,” said Sundeen. “We’ve already seen the new Roosevelt equipment being used over the summer by local daycares and neighborhood members. We want to continue to use our fundraising efforts in a way that supports both our students and the Jamestown community. Inclusivity is key.”
The PTO has already begun fundraising for new swings, including one that is handicap accessible. Donations to support this effort can be made to the PTO by using VENMO @Roosevelt-PTO-1 or by mailing/dropping off a check at Roosevelt Elementary School.