BUILD A PLAYGROUND -Chandler Magnet

Chandler Magnet School and The Academic Center for Transition (ACT) at CMS serve a linguistically, culturally and academically diverse population. CMS is the only bilingual school within Worcester Public Schools  that offers instruction to newly arrived students from Spanish speaking countries. Often for many of these students CMS provides the first consistent structure to access learning and a connection with teachers, staff and peers that speak Spanish and can help them acclimate. ACT provides instruction to students from across the district with a focus on academic and social emotional growth. Over 95% of CMS' students are bused to CMS school from neighborhoods across the city. The majority of these neighborhoods often do not have safe and or accessible greenspaces for play and exploration.

All of the students enrolled at ACT are children who have experienced trauma, interrupted learning due to conditions of their experiences. Many have been diagnosed with sensory and learning exceptionalities as well.

Equally important to note that many of the students at CMS have taken a journey to be part of our learning community that has often been stressful. Amongst this total population many of the students have experienced trauma, interruption to learning and gaps in access to formal education due to frequent mobility. This has impacted the students’ abilities to navigate the learning environment successfully due to lack of exposure and being under prepared to meet the demands of the social and academic expectations.

Many of CMS' children have lacked the opportunities and experiences that provide not only academic instruction but equally important opportunity to learn through socialization, exploration and play. Having a play area that incorporates sensory, tactile and natural environments will allow our children to access these resources during the day as well as after school hours. More importantly it will provide a necessary educational experience that they have not been afforded.

Stats: Enrollment is 466 students of which 70% are English Language Learners and 22% of the entire population are identified as Homeless. Based upon last year’s information 88% of Chandler Magnet students qualified for Free and or Reduced Lunch and 100% of the ACT students qualified for F&R lunch. All students are eligible to receive free breakfast daily.

We are  passionate about this project because the reality is that all children need to have opportunities to play, explore, imagine and create. For many children, outdoor play has been replaced with all kinds of sports, lessons, and computer time, etc. Some CMS students are lucky enough to be involved in after school activities that provide those opportunities. Many children do not have these options for healthy, developmental play, and this is why it is so important to provide this during the school day.

 As members of a caring community, who understand that it is our collective responsibility to care for, and provide the best educational opportunities and experiences available for our city’s young people, especially those who are at high risk due to circumstances beyond their control, I hope you will consider supporting this project with your donation.
I can guarantee you that your investment in the students at Chandler Magnet School will be one of the best you will ever make in your life.

Thank you for your consideration and for caring about the educational and social-emotional well-being of the students at CMS – who are all of our kids!