Cherry Valley continues work on playspace
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POLSON — Kindergarten and first grade children at Cherry Valley School are like children everywhere; most of them love to go out for recess.
Wiggly little bodies need time to run, jump, skip, swing on the rings, shoot down the slides and hide in the trees.
Cherry Valley staff has worked at providing a playground that’s developmentally appropriate for young children.
Principal Elaine Meeks said when the Polson School Board split the schools and sent kindergarten and first graders to Cherry Valley, one directive from the board was to create an exemplary early childhood center.
First the Cherry Valley staff analyzed the curriculum, Meeks said, including looking at full-time kindergarten, researched best practices and the whole learning environment.
Outdoor playtime is an integral part of the learning process for young children.
The playground three years ago was “an anthill,” with a jungle gym in the middle and a large field around the perimeter.
So Cherry Valley staff and administration formed a committee composed of Meeks, Molly Billedeaux, Bonnie Petersen, Bill Starkey and Susan Stuber.
The committee brainstormed to figure out what sort of a playground would best serve for play and development of all young children. It was agreed that the area should be culturally sensitive and recognize the environment, Stuber said, as well as serve as a community playspace.
Billedeaux explained that one of the biggest pieces of the playground design was to create a more nature-inspired play area complete with native plants as opposed to one filled with big, plastic, generic toys.
The committee worked with a designer from Delaney’s on their playground plans.
Next spring marks the third year for playground upgrades, and the playspace is almost complete.
The school has had a lot of help along the way. Contributions include a $3,000 grant from Lowe’s for three tricycle garages built by Polson High School students, donated labor and a playhouse built by a Cherry Valley parent.
Grants from the Mars and Verna Rolfson and Taber foundations funded the musical garden and bongo drums.
The Parent Teacher Organization purchased swings and the spider climber, and the walking path was made possible by the Cherry Valley Walk-a-Thon.
At this point, the committee is running out of money and will be fundraising to complete the playspace with a pirate ship, a powwow pavilion and additional plants and trees.
The pirate ship was in the Polson High School homecoming parade and will be retrofitted so it’s safe to play on.
A bake sale to purchase the ship will be held at the school on Nov. 23.
The Cherry Valley playground is open and being used by our community, Head Start and neighborhood kids, Meeks said.
The new playground is entertaining as well as developmentally appropriate.
But don’t tell the children. They just think it’s fun.
