Something really special happened at Rise Above this season, and it all started with our amazing community.
In a beautiful display of generosity, our families and local neighbors contributed nearly $2,000 toward the evolution of our playground. This is a significant milestone that speaks volumes about the deep-seated care and intentional investment our community holds for the children in our care.
The funds are going directly toward building a mud kitchen and a new, improved sandbox and outdoor play area. These upgrades serve as intentional additions rooted in our educational philosophy, where outdoor spaces are treated as classrooms and children are given the tools to explore, create, and discover through hands-on experience.
When the pea gravel was removed from the playground, our community showed up for that too. Families took truckloads of pea gravel home for their own gardens, driveways, and backyard play spaces. They helped with the removal process, and in turn, we helped them put the materials to good use. It was a genuine exchange, neighbor helping neighbor.
This is what it looks like when a school community functions as a real community. Our families truly engage with us. They participate, give, and show up for our community.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who donated, spread the word, came to help, and trusted that this investment would make a difference for our children. The playground is becoming more than a play space. It is becoming an outdoor classroom, a gathering place, a living extension of what we believe learning can look like.
Thank you for being part of it.
