After our very successful Spring Community Work Day, we've decided to make this a bi-annual event! Please join us on October 1 for work, fun, and community!

The day will include:

• Cider donuts

• Childcare

• Lunch (hotdogs/veggie dogs and popsicles!)

• Fun and Work!

We will have projects for all skill levels. Stay for an hour or the whole morning!

Our Community Work Day on May 14 truly defied all of our expectations in the best possible way! We had nearly 40 parents, students, and community members show up to show our school some real love, and move projects forward. There was music, watermelon, sweat (so, so much sweat!) and lots of laughter!

Here is what we were able to achieve:

• Fence post were installed for new fencing in front of the Early Learning Center (ELC)

• Countertops constructed for in the ELC mud kitchen

• New climbing structure constructed for the ELC

• Two new garden beds were constructed

• Old bleachers were deconstructed

• Locust logs were debarked to be used in several projects

• Large tent was put up for spring

• Stump removal on hillside where a slide will eventually go

• Pruning, raking, and landscaping

• And lots, and lots of wood chip spreading!

THANK YOU to everyone that made this possible!!

Time to give a little love back to the school! We invite one and all to join us for a morning of "spring cleaning" at the school.

The day will include:

• Coffee and bagels

• Childcare (provided by middle school students at the playground)

• Music- Local rock band The XTernals (featuring the school's very own Dan Bailey) will play at the end of the day!

• Lunch (hotdogs/veggie dogs and popsicles!)

• Fun and Work!

We will have projects for all skill levels from raking, to fence installation, to painting! Stay for an hour or the whole morning!

Sign-up or show-up!

Mud season is fully upon us which means spring is on its way! With the ground thawing, we can finally get started on the MANY projects we have planned for the next few months.

Introducing the Interstellar Incline Rope Climber!

One of the exciting changes happening over the summer will be the installation of an out of this world climber! From the company's website, "The Interstellar Incline is a 3D Net Climber that is out of this world. This tangle of nylon and steel is a climbing paradise. This provides kids with an organic way to build social skills along with strengthening multiple muscle groups. The Interstellar Incline is a fun way for children to make friends, break a sweat and reach for the stars. Kids can experience a universe of wonders while never leaving the atmosphere. "

Community Work Day- May 14, 9am

Save the date and make sure to join us for the first annual Dummerston School Spring Community Work Day! This is a wonderful way for us to show the school a little bit of love and FINALLY (fingers crossed!) come together as a community! We will have jobs for all skills levels, and will hopefully end the day with food and music.

Pennies for the Playground- Coming soon!

Time to dig into your couch cushions! We are currently planning a coin drive at the school as a fundraiser for the playground. This is a great way to get students involved and give them a sense of ownership in all the exciting changes. More details to come!

With the help of staff, local businesses, and parents we were able to accomplish a number of projects before the snow started to fly this winter.

We've continued to clear out brush and Glabach Land Management were able to dig out a sledding run in the hillside. We've added lots of equipment to the Early Learning Center (ELC) for the pre-k and kindergarten students to explore on in the natural landscape of the woods. Mr. Bailey, the Dummerston School facilities manager, along with the help of students, recently completely a kickback wall.

We are busy planning for Phase II (of IV) to commence this spring. We are hoping to add a steel inset hillside slide, a major climbing feature, new garden beds, new fencing near the ELC, and outdoor amphitheater.

Much of this has been made possible by our generous community donors, who have sponsored the following projects:

Mark, Liz and Annie Richards- climbing wall/feature

Walker Farm- Garden Beds

Tim Knapp- Outdoor amphitheater

We still have many naming opportunities available! Keep in mind our plans are changing as things progress and not all current naming opportunities are listed. We encourage you to reach out to us if you are looking for unique sponsorship options. Your sponsorship is a great way to have a lasting impact on our school and the Dummerston community.

We have now raised a total of $20,000! These community contributions will allow us to complete our phase 1 renovations and we have started in earnest to plan for the spring.

But the snow hasn't flown yet so we still hope to get some work done this fall! We are planning a work day on October 30 to start on the construction of a kickback wall. Contact the school if you would like to help out!

We have also set a tentative path for a community walking path around the school grounds. You are welcome to come check it out, and the more folks that walk on it, the more we start to wear down a pathway. Just look for the small ground flags by the soccer field to get started.

This summer and fall we have been setting the stage to get ready for the work ahead. This has meant moving the "covered bridge" and concession stand, major brush clearing, and, most excitingly, installing new swings!