By Jeff Roland

Banfield Elementary principal

Since becoming principal of Banfield Elementary School, our students, staff and families have engaged in at least two community-based service projects each year.

Whether it has been Pennies for Patients, our annual holiday food drive, participating in the Mo-Vember project, the winter coat drive, or special projects for child victims of natural disasters, Banfield has always tried to include a service learning component into the student’s experience.

The service learning component emphasizes what we as a school can do to help others in our community or in our country who have experienced less or adversity. The support we as a school received from parents, friends and neighbors has been overwhelming. This year, our efforts are turned inward to address a need we have at Banfield.

Our playground equipment has been in place for over 25 years.  It has weathered the ice of winter, the heat of summer and continual kids use with playground components that were manufactured in the 1980s. It has been patched, spot-welded, taped and re-anchored in an effort to extend its life. Quite frankly, it is past the quick fix point and needs to be replaced.

At the end of the 2016-17 school year, staff at Banfield committed to look at what it would take to get a new playground. A committee of teachers, staff and parents was formed, research was done on companies providing certified manufacturing and installation of school playground equipment.  A review of the existing area was made for size and types of equipment, and research was done on the bedding/surface component of a new playground making it an inclusive area. This has been the easy part. The hardest part of this process is gaining the financial support.

So this year, Banfield students, staff and families have made the new Banfield playground their service learning project. Staff will be contributing to our new playground fund through a variety of events (in and out of school) throughout the year.  Our students and families, will be able to donate to our cause via a number of special days throughout the school year organized by our Student Council. Students and staff are vigorously behind this project.

We will also be hosting a number of fundraising events within the community to meet our need, with the first being a pizza night at the Pizza Ranch on Nov. 1. The public, beyond Banfield families, is cordially invited. We hope you can attend.

Much has been written recently about how an active body helps students to learn. With a modern and safe new playground in place, we hope that students at Banfield will have the opportunity to engage in physical activities that will not only help them to be more successful in the classroom, but also to have fun with their classmates for at least the next 25 years.