Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 12:54     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
The playground hasn't been completed yet. It's a $300,000 design. Their PTO equivalent organization is trying to raise $100K per year for 3 years to fund it.

Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 12:48     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The CMI outdoor space master plan is at the bottom of this link for this who are interested:

https://www.crowdrise.com/creativemindsplayground


That looks fantastic!


The master plan does look fantastic, but in reality, it only looks so-so. It looked great the first day, but now there is sand everywhere, the gravel walkway is mixed everywhere and there is a wood chips everyone. The kids hit each other with the wood pieces and there is poop in the tunnel (that's been there for days and reported but nothing has been done). The slides are tiny and my 2nd grader already thinks its for babies (and the tiny preschool students do use it so it is 3-year old appropriate). I thought the fairy houses would be a favorite, but they go ignored. The various tree stump steps are fun and kids love that -- some of them are in circles, but they weren't put in properly so they are unstable and dangerous and kids regularly fall off them. The best part is the garden (which was free and done by parents) but it's such a small part. I wish the garden was bigger. I can't imagine the playground being a good fit for the current students for more than a couple years except for the preschool students. By 2nd grade (which is all I know), they do play in the giant sand box (and bring a lot of it home) which has a water fountain (so it's wet, sticky sand), and right now it is new, so they are having fun, but I think it will wear off in a couple months and they will complain of boredom there. It definitely does not look like something that would cost $300,000. It looks like a bunch of parents got together with donated wood chips (often free), gravel, and cut wood from a tree that a neighbor removed. The only part that looks professional is the tunnel (with the poop), the baby slide (which is gorgeous but for babies) and the giant fancy sand box (which is the best part).


That's hilariously absurd! Thanks for sharing!


Is this true? Why are families proud of the playground? Anyone else see it?
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 12:26     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
No time, no money.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 11:36     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The CMI outdoor space master plan is at the bottom of this link for this who are interested:

https://www.crowdrise.com/creativemindsplayground


That looks fantastic!


The master plan does look fantastic, but in reality, it only looks so-so. It looked great the first day, but now there is sand everywhere, the gravel walkway is mixed everywhere and there is a wood chips everyone. The kids hit each other with the wood pieces and there is poop in the tunnel (that's been there for days and reported but nothing has been done). The slides are tiny and my 2nd grader already thinks its for babies (and the tiny preschool students do use it so it is 3-year old appropriate). I thought the fairy houses would be a favorite, but they go ignored. The various tree stump steps are fun and kids love that -- some of them are in circles, but they weren't put in properly so they are unstable and dangerous and kids regularly fall off them. The best part is the garden (which was free and done by parents) but it's such a small part. I wish the garden was bigger. I can't imagine the playground being a good fit for the current students for more than a couple years except for the preschool students. By 2nd grade (which is all I know), they do play in the giant sand box (and bring a lot of it home) which has a water fountain (so it's wet, sticky sand), and right now it is new, so they are having fun, but I think it will wear off in a couple months and they will complain of boredom there. It definitely does not look like something that would cost $300,000. It looks like a bunch of parents got together with donated wood chips (often free), gravel, and cut wood from a tree that a neighbor removed. The only part that looks professional is the tunnel (with the poop), the baby slide (which is gorgeous but for babies) and the giant fancy sand box (which is the best part).


That's hilariously absurd! Thanks for sharing!
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 11:25     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
Because most of the PTA parents don't work. They think scheduling a meeting at 2:00 to talk about things is perfectly ok.

Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 11:24     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our school PTA decided to put ALL the money it raises (1/3 million dollars!!!) to a stupid playground and I'm not going to raise money for that when my 5th grader didn't even get a math book or a real science curriculum. I'm involved in my child's class but the ES PTA does not care about my child. We need a separate PTA for MS -- then I would donate many hours.


Exactly!


+1. How do we get our own PTA? I'm willing to do the work, raise the money, even run for president. We have different priorities and our kids are outnumbered.


Talk to Ornella
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 11:14     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our school PTA decided to put ALL the money it raises (1/3 million dollars!!!) to a stupid playground and I'm not going to raise money for that when my 5th grader didn't even get a math book or a real science curriculum. I'm involved in my child's class but the ES PTA does not care about my child. We need a separate PTA for MS -- then I would donate many hours.


Exactly!


+1. How do we get our own PTA? I'm willing to do the work, raise the money, even run for president. We have different priorities and our kids are outnumbered.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 11:10     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The CMI outdoor space master plan is at the bottom of this link for this who are interested:

https://www.crowdrise.com/creativemindsplayground


That looks fantastic!


The master plan does look fantastic, but in reality, it only looks so-so. It looked great the first day, but now there is sand everywhere, the gravel walkway is mixed everywhere and there is a wood chips everyone. The kids hit each other with the wood pieces and there is poop in the tunnel (that's been there for days and reported but nothing has been done). The slides are tiny and my 2nd grader already thinks its for babies (and the tiny preschool students do use it so it is 3-year old appropriate). I thought the fairy houses would be a favorite, but they go ignored. The various tree stump steps are fun and kids love that -- some of them are in circles, but they weren't put in properly so they are unstable and dangerous and kids regularly fall off them. The best part is the garden (which was free and done by parents) but it's such a small part. I wish the garden was bigger. I can't imagine the playground being a good fit for the current students for more than a couple years except for the preschool students. By 2nd grade (which is all I know), they do play in the giant sand box (and bring a lot of it home) which has a water fountain (so it's wet, sticky sand), and right now it is new, so they are having fun, but I think it will wear off in a couple months and they will complain of boredom there. It definitely does not look like something that would cost $300,000. It looks like a bunch of parents got together with donated wood chips (often free), gravel, and cut wood from a tree that a neighbor removed. The only part that looks professional is the tunnel (with the poop), the baby slide (which is gorgeous but for babies) and the giant fancy sand box (which is the best part).
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 10:25     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
Anonymous wrote:The CMI outdoor space master plan is at the bottom of this link for this who are interested:

https://www.crowdrise.com/creativemindsplayground


That looks fantastic!
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 10:24     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
The CMI outdoor space master plan is at the bottom of this link for this who are interested:

https://www.crowdrise.com/creativemindsplayground
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 10:19     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our school PTA decided to put ALL the money it raises (1/3 million dollars!!!) to a stupid playground and I'm not going to raise money for that when my 5th grader didn't even get a math book or a real science curriculum. I'm involved in my child's class but the ES PTA does not care about my child. We need a separate PTA for MS -- then I would donate many hours.


Creative Minds?


Are they going to put in one of those playgrounds with 30ft tall uncovered slides? I hate those.


It's going to be more expensive than most because it will be meant to be used by both typically development and children with special needs



Actually, because it's on federal land and it has to look a certain way. You cant just slap a plastic KaBoom! playground for 10,000K which will melt after 5 years with it's toxic chemicals and offgassing rubber padding.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 10:01     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our school PTA decided to put ALL the money it raises (1/3 million dollars!!!) to a stupid playground and I'm not going to raise money for that when my 5th grader didn't even get a math book or a real science curriculum. I'm involved in my child's class but the ES PTA does not care about my child. We need a separate PTA for MS -- then I would donate many hours.


Creative Minds?


Are they going to put in one of those playgrounds with 30ft tall uncovered slides? I hate those.


It's going to be more expensive than most because it will be meant to be used by both typically development and children with special needs

Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 09:44     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our school PTA decided to put ALL the money it raises (1/3 million dollars!!!) to a stupid playground and I'm not going to raise money for that when my 5th grader didn't even get a math book or a real science curriculum. I'm involved in my child's class but the ES PTA does not care about my child. We need a separate PTA for MS -- then I would donate many hours.


Creative Minds?


Are they going to put in one of those playgrounds with 30ft tall uncovered slides? I hate those.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 09:25     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Ex PTA president here. I think at some point board members should give up. Let there be no PTA and then you will see the a longer lines of concerned parents, mind you the same ones who refused to joined complaining about there being no PTA.


You sound bitter. But be honest -- did you really include parents and their ideas? DC's pta pres just wants to boss around.


+1
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2016 09:24     Subject: Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?
Anonymous wrote:Our school PTA decided to put ALL the money it raises (1/3 million dollars!!!) to a stupid playground and I'm not going to raise money for that when my 5th grader didn't even get a math book or a real science curriculum. I'm involved in my child's class but the ES PTA does not care about my child. We need a separate PTA for MS -- then I would donate many hours.


Exactly!