Student music video pleads for new playground

The PTO at Midway Elementary School in Menan has come up with a creative way to publicize the need for a new playground. Students did a music video.

The current playground was built in 1968. The deteriorating old wooden structure has become home to bees is giving students splinters. They are being cut by old metal slides and chains.

“Our playground is old,” PTO president –Mikelle Bronson — said. “The kids are getting hurt. We’ve tried welding it. We’ve tried fixing it — and it just doesn’t stay fixed.”

The students agree something needs to be done.

“There’s a lot of things broken on it and there’s a lot of people getting stung by bees and people are getting really hurt,” Kelsie Tomson said.

“I was on the monkey bars and looked at my hand and some of my skin was just peeled off,” Molly Burgess, said.

“This one really old bridge is breaking,” Alyssa Newmyer said.

Midway elementary is home to most of the kids in the district with more serious special needs, so they hope to make the new playground more accessible to them.

“When they come out here they want to play with their friends, so I think it helps them to feel like they’re just a normal kid like everyone else,” Bronson said.

Bronson used the song, “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” as the melody for the students “Do You Want to Build a Playground” music video. The video will be posted on the PTO Facebook Page.

Estimated cost for a new playground is $60,000. They’ve raised $9,000 so far through fundraisers. A July 4th 5k run is the final fundraiser of the year. Donations are also appreciated.

The PTO has set up a Facebook page with details on the project including the fun run.
https://www.facebook.com/Menan-Midway-Elementary-PTO-217182014972315/?ref=bookmarks