New Castle Elementary Playground

Our new playground is finished and ready to be used!!

The inspector from the city visited the school yesterday and gave the final approval on the structure. Now we can play!

Mrs. Shouldis, our PE Teacher, met with all students to discuss safety on the new equipment and provide demonstrations of proper use.

Let’s Play!

Thanks are extended to the New Castle PTA, New Castle Parents and Community, and our Principal, Mrs. Duff, for working so hard to help make this playground a reality.

We are getting even closer to completion with the playground! Today the workers installed the last few pieces of the structure and assembled a short wall made of black rubber around the base. Then the mulch was moved from the big pile (see previous post) and spread underneath the playground equipment, filling the area inside the black wall.

Now the department in charge of safety for Virginia Beach City Public Schools will inspect the structure.   Once approved for safety, the playground will be ready for use. Until then, yellow CAUTION tape will surround the equipment.

Today a huge truck arrived. It contained the cement that will be used to fill the support pole holes. Under the hot September sun, the workers used wheelbarrows to move cement from the truck to each hole. 

The cement will take about three days to harden.  Then the mulch will be spread underneath the new equipment. We know everyone is anxious to play on the new equipment. It should be ready soon–one day next week.

The new playground is assembled. Yellow CAUTION tape surrounds it because it is not ready yet. Deep holes were dug for the different poles that supsport the equipment and hold everything together. Within the next few days the cement truck will arrive and pour cement into each hole. This will help reinforce our new playground and make it strong and safe.  The cement needs 72 hours to harden before the playground can be used.

Yesterday a huge truck delivered wood mulch for the playground area. The mulch will be spread underneath and around the entire playground area.

Our playground is looking like a real playground. The workers have made great progress since yesterday.  This picture was taken around lunchtime today. Our students having been watching the progress and can’t wait to have fun on the new playground.

Yippee!  It’s the first day of the new school year and construction of the new playground began today. Lots of workers and lots of hours will help to complete this project by Monday, September 10th. 

Watch this blog for daily updates this week!

Due to the summer weather (heat and rain), the playground equipment company has changed the installation date for the New Castle Playground. They now plan to begin construction towards the end of next week–around August 30th or 31st. Installation is scheduled to last about four days.

Watch the blog for more updates next week!

The playground equipment was unloaded on Monday, August 13th. Construction and assembly is scheduled to begin the week of August 20th.

The Groundbreaking Ceremony was held on June 7th, 2007, during Field Day. Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 attended the event along with several parents from the PTA. Our Student Council Association (SCA) members proudly participated in the ceremony.