Last spring, the Town of Scituate approved the construction of a new playground to enhance the outdoor play experience for students at Jenkins Elementary School.
The classroom-based project that led to this real-world construction project was organized by Jenkins teacher Marie Fiddler and her colleagues Lauren LaMountain and Mary Hallin. Approximately 60 passionate 3rd-grade students also participated–proving that age is no barrier to making a difference in a community. Through persuasive letters and collaboration, the students worked to secure funding and create a new and improved playground for their school.
Fiddler expressed the importance of gaining the students’ perspective during the project, noting that they “wanted the kids to write and have a voice” on the topic. She reiterated that the foundation for the letters was part of the myView Literacy reading curriculum. The assignment challenged 3rd-grade students to conduct research and write a letter that matched a topic, applying their learning in a real-world situation.
Jack Tibbetts, a 4th-grade Jenkins student, authored one of the letters. He expressed his thoughts on the project and commented, “It feels good to write a letter that made a difference in the community.”
One letter in particular, authored by 4th-grade student Rose Walker, highlighted safety concerns. She wrote about trading wooden chips for rubber so the playground would be “waterproof and fireproof,” creating a safer play surface. Walker also suggested including a “shed for the winter, when it’s cold, so students can stay warm.” Although a shed was not included in the final design, Walker expressed her enthusiasm, commenting that “the project was fun.” Walker added, “I got to write what I wanted,” highlighting the benefits of student involvement.
Jenkins Principal Mary Oldach noted that the funding for this ambitious project amounted to $440,000. The Jenkins Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) contributed $40,000 to help finance this initiative; the remaining $400,000 came from the Town of Scituate Community Preservation Committee. Oldach also mentioned that the new playground was completed within a year, which she considers “remarkable.” She praised the PTO and emphasized that it “has just been amazing.”
On Monday, November 20th, 2023, the new playground was officially open for play. Initially, the playground was not expected to be completed until spring 2024.
With the construction of this new playground, school-aged children can enjoy a completely new play experience. Tibbetts expressed that the playground size is “significantly bigger” with the new infrastructure encompassing more obstacle courses. Besides its increased size, the playground also includes new swings and ramps for students of all abilities, improving equipment for a more accessible playground.
With new safety features, updated equipment, and added fun, the new Jenkins playground was designed and built with all students in mind. The collaborative effort between the town and the students of Jenkins School highlights that student voices–of any age–can make a difference in their community.