AFTER EIGHT WEEKS OF waiting, the school’s littlest learners patiently, but excitedly, waited for the final countdown.
TK students dressed in blue and green plaid clutched the red ribbon while kindergartners huddled up and everyone counted down from 10. With the ribbon cut, it was finally time to do what little learners do best — play.
St. Hedwig Catholic School in Los Alamitos celebrated the opening of its new TK and kindergarten playground on Nov. 8 with a blessing, ribbon cutting and cake as families, friends and alumni watched.
“What a great day today as we celebrate this new chapter for our school community and our TK and kinder- land down here,” said Principal Chris McGuiness. “What an honor to stand before you as we officially open up our brand-new playground — a space where creativity, laughter and physical activity will flourish for years and years to come.”
Fr. Quan Tran blessed the new equipment before the play began.
“This is a very exciting day, blessing our new playground,” Fr. Quan said. “And like Mr. McGuiness said, play is important. I’m learning that, so I’m going to play too.”
REV. QUAN TRAN BLESSES THE NEW TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN AND KINDERGARTEN PLAYGROUND AT ST. HEDWIG CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN LOS ALAMITOS ON NOV. 8. PHOTOS BY STEVE GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
The new equipment and AstroTurf over foam mats replaced broken, aging equipment on sand that was from 1996 and no longer ADA compliant, said Christina Hunt, St. Hedwig’s facilities manager and admissions coordinator.
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN AND KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS GET TO PLAY ON THEIR NEW PLAYGROUND AFTER THE EQUIPMENT WAS BLESSED ON NOV. 8 AT ST. HEDWIG CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN LOS ALAMITOS.
The cost of the new playground is estimated at $120,000.
The play structure was also made bigger to accommodate the school’s number of TK and kinder students, which has been growing steadily over the last four years, McGuiness said.
The new play place was a big hit with the children who laughed, screamed and ran around trying out all the new features.
“So beautiful,” TK student Jimmie Lands, 5, said of the new equipment. He said he was most excited for the “slides, the stairs, the monkey bars.”
The dream of a newer, safer space was kick started with a $10,000 donation four years ago. After that, the school “carved money out” every year to save up, McGuiness said.
The play space is more than just a place to have fun, McGuiness said.
“It’s a space where young minds grow, where friends are formed, and where children can develop important life skills,” he added. “Whether it’s climbing or swinging or playing tag, the lessons learned on a playground will help shape confidence, coordination and creativity for our students. It will provide them the opportunity to engage with each other in meaningful ways and enjoy a break from their classroom routines, which is so important for their overall growth.”
The students have been waiting for the new equipment, watching the process from demolition to the final nuts and bolts, said TK teacher Nicole Vasquez.
“I think they wanted to know why we are getting a new one,” she said. “So it was, the old one was broken. It didn’t work anymore, so now we have a new one where we can play safe. They want to know why. Everything is why. Why are we getting rid of it? What’s wrong with it?”
For Vasquez, this is the third kinder playground she has seen. An alumna herself, Vasquez remembers the wooden playground she played on in her time, and she was in eighth grade in 1996 when they installed the last one.
THREE GENERATIONS OF ST. HEDWIG’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTEND THE BLESSING OF ITS NEW PLAYGROUND ON NOV. 8. GRANDMOTHER SUSAN PRADO, DAUGHTER NICOLE VASQUEZ, AND GRANDDAUGHTER GIANNA VASQUEZ CAME OUT TO CELEBRATE THE NEW PLAYGROUND.
Vasquez is the second generation to attend St. Hedwig. Her mother, and now her two children, attend.
Vasquez’s mother and fellow alumna, Susan Prado, said she was honored her grandchildren were attending her alma mater. The school has a place in her heart and fond memories of school traditions, like
pancake breakfasts and talent shows. It also laid the foundation for her to build a faith-based family.
“First and foremost, St. Hedwig’s is a place of love and peace and home,” Prado said. “It’s home. I’ve always felt very safe and comfortable here.”