Rhema parents lend a hand to install new schoolyard equipment.

New playground equipment for students of all ages
Wednesday, May 2, 2007 -- Michelle Strutzenberger
Last week’s installation of new playground equipment is the first of two major changes to come to the Rhema schoolyard, according to Gord Klingspohn, parent and board-member.

In several weeks two new tetherball poles will also be installed on the grounds. The new tetherball poles are being purchased with a $250 grant from the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

Klingspohn says the building and grounds committee wants to ensure that there are activity options for students of all ages.

“Obviously the playground equipment is for the younger students,” he says. “And the tetherball poles are going to help meet the activity needs of the older students.”

The new play structure was purchased with a donation of funds designated for playground equipment.

Nine Rhema dads spent a Saturday installing the equipment at the school. A base was first constructed according to the building code. This included digging down to level off the ground surface, spreading out limestone screenings, and pounding in four-foot stakes with sledgehammers. The structure was then pieced together and set up.

Klingspohn says that there was a “real sense of community,” throughout the day, “of joining together for a common cause and accomplishing something together. I know for me that was really positive. A couple of others commented on that also.”

Gord Deck was one of the fathers who donated his time and recruited several other men to help.

He says the effort appears to have been worth it, judging by the response of the younger students.