When Heritage Christian School students return for the fall semester, they will be greeted by a brand new playground system.

 

Taking the place of a donated playground – gifted about 10 years ago by Burger King – the play yard will include a tea cup merry-go-round in red, an eight-inch blue balance beam, fire truck recreational replica and two-top-Khamun climbing system in primary colors.

 

Principal Missy Mohr said the new equipment has arrived, but there’s some work to be done in the play yard before it is installed.

 

“For instance, there is a French drain that needs to be repaired and a few other things, including some fencing that is leaning and needs repaired also,” she said. “Rather than putting all the equipment up and having to work around it or tear it up, we want to take care of those things first.”

 

There are multiple reasons for the new playground purchase.

 

“For one thing, we are licensed by the state for our preschool program and the system that we have does not meet their codes,” Mohr said.

 

“We were already working toward a new playground system - because we needed it and the other system was so old - when we found that out about a year ago, so that kind of made it more urgent," Mohr said. 

 

About $20,000 was raised through a series of fundraisers, including popcorn and snow cone sales and dress down days at school.

 

The current playground surface is pebble rock and that surface might be replaced, depending upon the balance left In the fund, Mohr said.

 

“There has been no decision about that yet,” she said.

 

In addition to the playground, the school will feature other new additions for the 2019-20 school year.

 

“We are in the middle of completely redoing our music room and that includes fresh paint and fresh carpeting,” she said. “Then, of course, we are still completing some finishing touches on the damage that happened last year.”

 

In September of 2018, the school building suffered water damage when there was a major water leak, resulting in water pooling on the roof and leaking into the interior of the building.

 

“Our early education officer’s office was completely trashed. We had moved her to a different office, so that repair work was last on the list,” Mohr said. “We also have a pre-K cubby - which is a storage area – that got trashed, so we need floor in there and it needs painted. We have the flooring. We just need the manpower.”

 

While major repairs were taking place, Heritage Christian students were housed at Trinity Assembly of God in Fairmont. During that time, fundraisers were ongoing to fund the repair work.

 

“So many people did fundraisers for us. Simpson and Johnson elementary schools both held fundraisers and everybody in this community was so good and kind to us,” Mohr said. “I can’t even tell you how many businesses contributed. They may not have all given money, but they provided products we needed. Huffman Corporation helped us as much as they possibly could and Abraham Linc helped too. Bridgeport Physical Therapy held a fundraiser and different churches, individuals and businesses stepped up. It was just one of those moments that we really felt the love of the community, knowing they must really care about us and are glad we are here. My first year as principal, it was nice to feel the love.”

 

Mohr taught middle school language arts for 11 years before serving as assistant principal for one year and then transitioning into the principal position in 2018/19.

 

Editor's Note: Seen above are the new playground components. Pictured below is the present equipment, which will replaced by the new system. Mohr is also pictured above.