COLUMN: Carillon Flashback October 1, 1980 – Richer playground gets second upgrade

The Richer School has done it again. Last September, students in kindergarten to Grade 3 were treated to new playground equipment erected in front of the school at a cost of about $4,000. On Friday, an open house and extended recess for students marked the official presentation of another $4,200 worth of playground equipment for older students at the back of the school.

Construction of both playgrounds is unique in that parents, teachers, school division representatives and the school principal, volunteered to organize and finance the purchases, assembly and installation of the equipment.

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony the last week in September, speakers included Seine River School Division board chair Gerard Archambault; school trustee and committee member Gilles Saindon; Grade 5 parent representative and playground committee member Joyce Korman; Richer School principal George Prescott, and two Grade 4 students, who won an essay contest on the topic of the new playground.

Wanda Warksdale read her essay in English, followed by Joanne Daigneault, who read her essay in French.

After the program and official ribbon-cutting performed by trustee Saindon and the two students, a reception for staff and adult visitors was held in the school, while the students enjoyed an extended recess on their new playground equipment.

The new equipment includes two sets of swings, a special rocket slide, two other slides, a fitness centre and a tire jungle. All eight pieces were purchased from D & M Welding Playground Equipment of Winnipeg, who donated a $950 rocket slide to the school. Total expenditure was $4,500.

Students played a huge role in raising $3,233 towards the project through fundraising activities last year, including a Christmas concert, bake sales, a sports fair, a raffle, a bazaar, teen dance and food sales. Donations from organizations like the Knights of Columbus, parents’ committee and the Manitoba Metis Federation helped top the $3,000 mark.

A division grant of $14 per student in Grade 4 to 9 will be added to the fund towards final payment for the equipment. Enrolment at Richer School is just over 200, although 97 students between Grade 4 and 6 will make use of the most recently upgraded playground.

If revenues exceed expenditures, the balance will be given to the Richer junior high school playground committee.