LAWRENCEBURG, IN — Hundreds of fundraiser donations, several local sponsors, and thousands of footsteps are turning St. Lawrence School’s dream of a playground for students a reality. Planning for the playground installation began last school year, and with the support of the community and parish, this fall when students return to school, they will have the new equipment ready for first recess.
This spring, the St. Lawrence PTO dedicated their annual Walk-a-Thon fundraiser to raising money to support the initiative. The students rallied behind the idea and reached out to family, friends, and the local community for sponsorships – eventually surpassing their goal by more than $3,000. The Walk-a-Thon donations paired with the support of several organizations and individuals in the community allowed the school to reach its goal this year. Soon after the Walk-a-Thon, Principal Rob Detzel announced the new playground to the students and showed them renderings of the equipment.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be able to provide a new playground for our students to enjoy. This playground will provide our students with a safe environment to play and get some quality exercise. It is something that we have needed for a long time,” Detzel said. “When I first interviewed at St. Lawrence, this was something that everyone insisted that we needed and now it has become a reality.”
Though the school did have a playground at one point in its history, the current generation of students has never had any equipment to support large motor play at recess.
“I am excited about the new playground because we have never had a playground set before,” said fourth-grade student Lindsey. “I saw what the new playground looked like and I was really
excited. The playground has monkey bars and several slides. I am also glad that it will be in by the start of the new school year.”
Currently, students rope off and utilize the shared parking lot for the school and St. Lawrence Catholic church for outdoor recess activities during the school day. Students have sports equipment and utilize creative free play during recess but are looking forward to the changes.
Grant, another fourth-grader at the school, said “I am excited about the playground because we won’t have to play in a parking lot anymore. This will give students an opportunity to have more
fun. This also helps students get more exercise.”
Community donors include the Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis Club, St. Lawrence PTO, and a generous anonymous donor in the community.
Construction will begin this summer and be completed before students return to school for classes on August 3 when enrollment for St. Lawrence School is expected to grow to more than 200 students. The St. Mary’s and St. Lawrence schools will officially merge and the playground is an exciting new addition to help the students develop lasting friendships.
“I am so excited about the new playground! I think it will really help us make friends with St. Mary’s students next year,” said Ellie, a fourth-grader at St. Lawrence. “We’ll be able to climb
around and it will make recess so much more fun.”
(St. Lawrence School press release)
