Elementary Play Project
Why Support?
As Celebrate the Children continues to grow each year becoming highly regarded as an alternative education option for special needs students, our early childhood and elementary program populations continue to grow. We continue to strive to better prepare our students with skills and abilities that will foster successful and fulfilling lives. The Elementary School playground and play space will provide students opportunities for free play and offer many valuable benefits, including the development of physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills.
At CTC, we believe that children are motivated, engaged, and at their optimal level of performance when they participate in meaningful and relatable activities. For children, those activities involve play. Through play, they develop their sensory, social, and motor skills by exploration and discovery. Play is the work that allows children to imitate real life, work through fears and problems, and develop their sense of self and creativity.
A dedicated playground and play space is the perfect place to help our students learn about themselves and the world around them. In addition to all of the health and physical benefits, cognitive and social development take place in the playground as students take turns, exercise self-control in waiting, observe each other, and learn to converse and work together with peers. These small moments of interaction lead to profound future applications of social etiquette within the community. Self-confidence and self-esteem also continue to build as students experience success and master equipment.
At CTC, we believe that children are motivated, engaged, and at their optimal level of performance when they participate in meaningful and relatable activities. For children, those activities involve play. Through play, they develop their sensory, social, and motor skills by exploration and discovery. Play is the work that allows children to imitate real life, work through fears and problems, and develop their sense of self and creativity.
A dedicated playground and play space is the perfect place to help our students learn about themselves and the world around them. In addition to all of the health and physical benefits, cognitive and social development take place in the playground as students take turns, exercise self-control in waiting, observe each other, and learn to converse and work together with peers. These small moments of interaction lead to profound future applications of social etiquette within the community. Self-confidence and self-esteem also continue to build as students experience success and master equipment.
Watch the Video
Elementary Playground & Play Space Donations
Fence Spindle
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Fence Post
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Bench - SOLD OUT
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Picnic Table - SOLD OUT
THANK YOU! |
Read our Article!
Denville school raising funds for new indoor/outdoor play area
By MEGAN ROCHE Contributing Writer Aug 6, 2018
DENVILLE TWP. – ”Celebrate the Children,” a school for children with alternative learning styles, is working hard to fundraise the last few thousand dollars they need to finish putting in an indoor/outdoor play area for their preschool and elementary students.
The new play space will be a combined indoor and outdoor play area and the team at the school, which is located on Diamond Spring Road, have high hopes for the cultivation.
“It’s ideally for preschool to age nine. The space was originally used as storage. We have so many ideas of what we want to include in the new space,” Jenna Hammond, developmental coordinator, said.
According to Executive Director Lauren Blaszak, the students who attend Celebrate The Children love to be outdoors. When the school moved to its new campus on Diamond Spring Road from Byram Township, they knew they had to get creative to find ways to create outdoor learning spaces.
“Our kids love to be outdoors, they are nature addicts. Given their sensory profiles, they learn from more experiential learning,” Blaszak said.
Additions to the school have included walking trails, a sensory path, outdoor classrooms, a greenhouse, and an outdoor theater. According to Blaszak, there are still many areas where they would like to expand.
“Outdoor space is really critical to our children. We’d love to add ropes courses, walking trails, and more,” Blaszak said.
All of the money raised for the project has come from various fundraising efforts at the school. The annual Bowl-A-Thon helped to bring in money along with a Ride for Autism at Garden State Harley Davidson, the school’s annual gala, and local families.
The new play space will house a splash pad and new playground outside. Inside, the space is still being designed but hopes are high for a rock climbing wall and a tree house.
Adjacent to the indoor outdoor space are two classrooms that will have doors that open up right into the space itself. The playground will be dedicated to Dr. Anthony Novembre, a member of the staff who passed away in 2017. Novembre was instrumental in the school’s move to Denville Township.
Blaszak says that play is a huge component of the student development.
“Play is not just about the aspect of playing, but about the environment. For our elementary kids, we wanted to be thoughtful about a space that is safe for them to play. We tried to really think about what they will love,” Blaszak said.
To get creative with fundraising, the school is giving local residents and businesses the chance to leave their name and legacy on an item at the new playground. Sponsorships range from $25-$500 and include fence spindles, fence posts, child size benches and picnic tables.
“This vision is all about supporting our mission that they are kids first and they have a disability second. There are other parts of them that are very important and this new space highlights that,” Blaszak said.
Many foundations have also stepped up to donate towards the project including the Celebrate the Children Foundation, the Billie McKenna Foundation, the Wilson Fund and the Hyde and Watson Foundation.
Construction is ongoing at the school with framing out the indoor structure and water line connections coming soon for the splash pad. The team at Celebrate the Children are aiming to have a ribbon cutting ceremony in March 2019.
Those who are interested in donating towards the schools efforts can make donations online at https://www.celebratethechildren.org/elementary-play-project.html.
DENVILLE TWP. – ”Celebrate the Children,” a school for children with alternative learning styles, is working hard to fundraise the last few thousand dollars they need to finish putting in an indoor/outdoor play area for their preschool and elementary students.
The new play space will be a combined indoor and outdoor play area and the team at the school, which is located on Diamond Spring Road, have high hopes for the cultivation.
“It’s ideally for preschool to age nine. The space was originally used as storage. We have so many ideas of what we want to include in the new space,” Jenna Hammond, developmental coordinator, said.
According to Executive Director Lauren Blaszak, the students who attend Celebrate The Children love to be outdoors. When the school moved to its new campus on Diamond Spring Road from Byram Township, they knew they had to get creative to find ways to create outdoor learning spaces.
“Our kids love to be outdoors, they are nature addicts. Given their sensory profiles, they learn from more experiential learning,” Blaszak said.
Additions to the school have included walking trails, a sensory path, outdoor classrooms, a greenhouse, and an outdoor theater. According to Blaszak, there are still many areas where they would like to expand.
“Outdoor space is really critical to our children. We’d love to add ropes courses, walking trails, and more,” Blaszak said.
All of the money raised for the project has come from various fundraising efforts at the school. The annual Bowl-A-Thon helped to bring in money along with a Ride for Autism at Garden State Harley Davidson, the school’s annual gala, and local families.
The new play space will house a splash pad and new playground outside. Inside, the space is still being designed but hopes are high for a rock climbing wall and a tree house.
Adjacent to the indoor outdoor space are two classrooms that will have doors that open up right into the space itself. The playground will be dedicated to Dr. Anthony Novembre, a member of the staff who passed away in 2017. Novembre was instrumental in the school’s move to Denville Township.
Blaszak says that play is a huge component of the student development.
“Play is not just about the aspect of playing, but about the environment. For our elementary kids, we wanted to be thoughtful about a space that is safe for them to play. We tried to really think about what they will love,” Blaszak said.
To get creative with fundraising, the school is giving local residents and businesses the chance to leave their name and legacy on an item at the new playground. Sponsorships range from $25-$500 and include fence spindles, fence posts, child size benches and picnic tables.
“This vision is all about supporting our mission that they are kids first and they have a disability second. There are other parts of them that are very important and this new space highlights that,” Blaszak said.
Many foundations have also stepped up to donate towards the project including the Celebrate the Children Foundation, the Billie McKenna Foundation, the Wilson Fund and the Hyde and Watson Foundation.
Construction is ongoing at the school with framing out the indoor structure and water line connections coming soon for the splash pad. The team at Celebrate the Children are aiming to have a ribbon cutting ceremony in March 2019.
Those who are interested in donating towards the schools efforts can make donations online at https://www.celebratethechildren.org/elementary-play-project.html.
