Garrett Elementary School students had five options when it came to selecting a second piece of new playground equipment for the school’s intermediate playground. They voted among four different pieces of equipment or they could elect to save the money and add it to money earned in the future.
Last fall, students sold copies of the 2011 St. Louis Entertainment® Coupon Books to family, friends and neighbors to raise money for the equipment. The books offer savings to local restaurants, shopping centers, attractions, travel destinations and more. They raised $2,800. Students who sold two or more books received an extra recess with Dr. Shanon Grashoff, the school’s instruction specialist. Students who sold three or more books earned an additional recess with Grashoff. Families who sold five or more entertainment books earned a free book for themselves. Students who sold six or more books earned a “fine dining” lunch with Garrett’s Principal, Dr. Crystal Reiter, and/or Grashoff.
“Playground equipment prices have gone up,” said Grashoff. “Considering how we didn’t have enough this year to buy one piece of equipment, we thought of saving the money for next year but our PTA generously offered to provide the difference in the cost.”
The two pieces that received the most votes were the Sky Wheel, which won, and the Bongo Jungle Climber. Garrett instructional specialist Dr. Shanon Grashoff said nine votes separated the first and second place winners. The saving option remained a choice and enough students voted to save the money to make it into third place.
“You could definitely see the difference between the savers and the spenders,” she said of the vote.
The Bongo Jungle Climber enhances students’ balancing abilities as they move among the five suspended “bongos” or hanging stools, while the Sky Wheel allows students to dangle as they move from “wheel” to “wheel” between its end sections.
“I picked the Bongo one because it look like it’s fun to hang on and walk on,” said fourth-grader Makael Winston. “The other one looks like kind of like driving and you’re trying to hang on.” Winston said he cannot wait to turn 16 and learn how to drive.
Half of the cost of each entertainment book purchased went directly to the school, which equaled $15 per book. Last year, students raised at least $3,000 to purchase an Orbit Overhead Climber, which rests in a grassy section of the playground behind the school.
“Even though I’m leaving this year, more kids will be able to have fun” said Taylor Latta, a fifth-grade student, as she explained her vote to save the money earned this year for next year. “I also liked the Sky Wheel. It looked like fun and it looked like it was spinning and kids would have a lot of fun on it.”
Grashoff said the Sky Wheel will be ready for Garrett Elementary students to use in the fall.