Klukwan School is fundraising to build a playground for its growing student body, which more than doubled in the last two years.
Head teacher Jessica Tipkemper said the school’s playground was torn down on short notice last summer after an insurance representative deemed it unsafe and not fully accessible to all levels of ability.
Tipkemper said she hopes the school’s 30 students can be a part of the design and installation process for a new facility.
“Our real vision that we’re hoping to make happen is to let our kids be a part of the design process,” Tipkemper said. “We want a music wall and a digging area with different natural materials from the Chilkat Valley like gravel, rocks and logs.”
Tipkemper said ideally the three main classrooms at the school – primary, elementary and middle/high school – would each design a portion of the playground. She said staff would also like to use the playground to teach students about physics and math.
They are seeking input on how the playground should look. They also hope to reinvigorate the raised bed garden space.
But Tipkemper said even a playground from a kit can be upwards of $50,000.
“Our district (Chatham School District), like all districts, is facing funding cutbacks and difficult choices,” Tipkemper said. “Getting a playground in place is not a top priority.”
Tipkemper said students have been fundraising on their own since the summer and have earned almost $500 by selling lemonade, hot chocolate and crafts at tables in Klukwan.
The school will host a spaghetti feed to raise funds for the playground at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 10 in Karl Ward Gymnasium as part of the Dick Hotch Memorial Basketball Tournament. Klukwan students will also sell baked goods, including fry bread, and crafts at the tournament.
“Fundraising will continue after the Dick Hotch, including a three on three basketball tournament April14 and the creation of a wooden paddle with formline design to be auctioned off,” Tipkemper said.
Klukwan School will eventually need volunteer support with time and materials to build the new facility, Tipkemper said. “We’re the only school in our district that’s growing,” Tipkemper said.
Klukwan School started the 2016-2017 school year with about 12 students. The student population more than doubled this school year to about 30.
“We’d like to do our best to serve our students with a playground,” Tipkemper said.