Check out photos from our "Build Day"
March 24th, 2007 and other great stuff!
(click on the photo above and click on each photo to enlarge)
Build Day, a Huge Success!!
Over two hundred volunteers, children and parents attended Saturday's Marin Elementary Playground "Build Day". Despite a soggy start, people started arriving at 6:30 am to help in anyway they could to make our children's dream become a reality. Volunteers came from Tyler School of Art, ASPIRA, Keystone Mercy Health Plan, Wordsworth After School Program, Marin Elementary, Diocese of Philadelphia, Lehigh University, Temple University, Weed & Seed, Univision as well as the community to lend a helping hand. Not only did they pitch-in to build the playground but a mural was painted as well. In addition, volunteers gladly helped clean the school grounds, direct traffic, serve food and provide children activities that included sports, face painting, ballooning and even a clown! Mark tthe DJ provided the salsa sounds that kept the crowd going. The TV and print media were in attendance to cover the day's activities with Univision documenting the entire process. Afterwards, everyone involved was treated to a super buffet dinner at The Chateau Restaurant!!
We truly want to thank everyone involved for unselfishly giving their time and efforts as we look forward to building the next one!!
Welcome to our homepage!
We're so glad you stopped by. The purpose of building the playground at 3rd and Ontario Sts. in Philadelphia, Pa. is to provide a safe play space for students that live in the surrounding area and attend Marin Elementary School. According to previous research, it is estimated that a total of approximately 850 students will benefit from the use of this playground on a regular basis. Come back often to check on our progress, and learn how you can volunteer to help us make the kids' dream a reality.
3/19/2007: Groundbreaking Day was a huge success! Over ten media outlets were at Marin yesterday to cover the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new playground. Television stations included Fox29, ABC6, NBC10, WFMZ69, Al Dia and Univision.
The print media was represented by the Philadelphia Tribune, The Philadelphia New Observer and The Public Record among others.
Representatives from Keystone Mercy, ASPIRA, Ciy of Philadelphia, Weed and Seed as well as local politicians enjoyed the dedication of the playground as anxious Marin Elementary students looked on.
3/19/2007: Pretzel Drive #2! Danielle Murray, a teacher at Marin, once again came through huge. For the second time, she spearheaded a Student Pretzel Drive that sold over 900 Pretzels with the proceeds going to help fund the playground. It has been so successful that Marin is planning on others to help raise funds for school projects.
3/5/2007: UNIVISION has graciously offered to become KMHP's media partner in the effort to build the playground. Primarily geared toward the Hispanic community, UNIVISION''s efforts will come in the form of Public Service Announcements, videos and various other forms of promotional material all for the purpose of providing our children a "Safe Place to Play"! For more information on UNIVISION, click on their link above in "Valuable Resources"
2/27/2007:A Home/School Association and Student Assembly was held February 22, 2007 at 2:30pm at Marin Elementary and it was a tremendous success! A packed auditorium of students, teachers, parents and Keystone Mercy Health Plan representatives witnessed skits and songs performed by the students and motivational words from Principal Jimenez and Keystone Mercy & ASPIRA representatives on how to volunteer on March 24th to help build the playground!
2/27/2007: "Weed and Seed" has generously decided to join our team and help with the Marin Elementary Playground in any way it can! Go to their website through the "Valuable Resources"" section above and learn more about their mission and community work.
2/27/2007: Joli Reicher, an art student at Temple University's Tyler School of Art has volunteered to paint a mural at Marin Elementary in conjunction with ther building of the playground. With the assistance of several Marin students, fellowTyler students and Marin Art Teacher Ms. Huard prelimunary work will start on Wednesday, February 28th. Way to go Joli!
2/21/2007: With the unselfish help of teacher Danielle Murray, over 900 pretzels were sold to students in our first "Pretzel Drive"
aimed at helping fund the project and getting the community involved!
2/7/2007: The preparations for our playground are being finalized in anticipation of "Build Day" on March 24th. The actual building of the playground will be a two step process. On Monday, March 19th we will have a "Groundbreaking Day" which will include the setting of the posts and a small ceremony recognizing the event. Attendees will include Keystone Mercy representatives as well as the media.
1/31/2007: Volunteers for the project are pouring in from around the area! Students from as far away as Lehigh University(25 students) as well as Temple University have offered their services!. In addition, Marin Elementary teachers volunteering now total 16! Also volunteering are members of the Wordsworth After School Program and members from the Arch Diocese. Keystone Mercy and ASPIRA helpers now total over 65. Total number of participants now exceeds 125!
1/11/2007: The team met at the Marin Elementary School to discuss the progress of the project. Everyone had a good New Year and we are ready for a fresh start! Each member was assigned a task for the "Build Day" on March 24, 2007 and the events leading up to it. Tasks include fundraising, volunteering, committees and marketing. Our goal for volunteer participation is over 125 people.
In addition, there will be another home/school association meeting to be held at Marin on Thursday, February 22 at 2:30pm. It will be combined with a student assembly in which parents teachers, children and volunteers are invited and will include skits and other presentations from the lower grafe students.
11/30/2006: We had our Home/School Association meeting last night and it was a rousing success! The highlight of the evening was the skit performed by the Marin Elementary 4th graders showing thanks to Keystone Mercy Health Plan and ASPIRA for donating the playground. Food was served, photos were taken and enthusiasm ran high.The parents were shown the website and how they can use it to participate and make suggestions about the project. There will be one more meeting before the "build day" of March 24 where parents will sign up for volunteering.
In attendence were Maria Battle, Sharon Thompson (from KMHP),
Evelyn Sostre (Home/School Association President), Alfredo Calderon (ASPIRA) and Rafaela Colon (NPHS). Representatives from Marin Elementary School include Abigail Jimenez (Principal), Ximena Carreno (Assistant Principal) and Bethany Parker (Teacher).Each person spoke about the importance of community involvement, volunteering and fundraising and were excited about the children getting a "safe place" to play!
11/01/2006: Final preparations were made, the agenda was finalized and the food was ordered for the Home/School Association meeting on the 24th!
10/07/2006: The home/school association meeting was switched to November 29th at 6:00pm. In addition to the parents and the community, the attendees will include Anne Morrissey, Maria Battle, Sharon Thompson (all from KMHP),
Evelyn Sostre (Home/School Association President), Alfredo Calderon (ASPIRA) and Rafaela Colon (NPHS). Representatives from Marin Elementary School include Abigail Jimenez (Principal), Ximena Carreno (Assistant Principal) and Bethany Parker (Teacher).
10/05/2006: Our "build date" was switched to March 24, 2006 due to construction and weather concerns. This will give us more time for fundraising, community involvement and to sign up that many more volunteers!
9/25/2006: We held our 2nd Planning Committee Meeting at Marin Elementary. All the attendees were enthusiastic and full of great ideas. We are planning to meet with the Home & School Association on 10/18 to get the community and parents involved in a big way!
9/21/2006: We set a final "Build Date" of 11/13/2006...how exciting!
9/18/2006: The students from Ms. Parker's class submitted drawings of their playground ideas which can viewed in the "photo" section. Great job kids!
9/11/2006: We met with the manufacturer and the Marin Elementary School representative today and finalized the exact size and location of the playground equipment. The teachers and the students are getting excited!
Volunteers Welcomed!
Help us in a good cause! Whether you are a parent, a local businessperson or a concerned citizen give us a call and help our children get a much needed "safe place" to play.
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