WSD Weekly
Boletín Semanal del Distrito Escolar de Wenatchee
Newbery PTA Cuts the Ribbon on New Playground a Decade in the Making
More than a decade of bake sales, fund runs, and community fundraising came to life this spring at John Newbery Elementary, where a brand-new playground is taking shape — and students couldn't be more excited about it.
The John Newbery PTA has been working for over ten years to replace playground equipment that was originally installed in the 1990s. Through their annual fund run and a series of community fundraisers, the PTO raised $125,000 — a testament to the dedication of Newbery families and the power of a community rallying around its kids.
"Just seeing this project get completed after so many years — it's been so rewarding," said PTA President Mareena Pierce. Last week, the PTA held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the whole school in attendance to commemorate the official opening of the new play structure.
But perhaps the most meaningful part of the process happened before a single piece of equipment was installed. PTA representatives visited 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade classrooms to ask students directly what they wanted in a new playground. The feedback was enthusiastic, and it shows in the finished product. The new playground features a zipline, two sets of monkey bars, and a spinning cyclone.
