Indian Head Elementary School dedicates new playground

Indian Head Elementary School held a ceremony on Monday, June 8, to formally dedicate new playground equipment installed earlier this school year.

The ceremony included performances from the school's fourth- and fifth-grade chorus, and three student representatives - third grader Reines Maliksi, fourth grader Cayla Riddick and fifth grader Nina Bleckley, read essays aloud about the new playground and what it meant to the students.

The $100,000 cost of the equipment was provided by the Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) Program, made available through the Maryland Interagency Committee on School Construction. School eligibility requires that 35 percent of a school's population be enrolled in free or reduced-price meals (FARMS) programs.

Additionally, the grant requires proof of established business and community partnerships that aid to enhancing educational programs within the school. The program also matched half of the playground costs with volunteer hours, which provided $55,000 of the total costs based on 4,785 volunteer hours.

The playground features a rubber mat-like surface that helps prevent serious injuries, and is accessible for students with physical disabilities. Staff at Indian Head requested the new playground so the area could be accessible to all students and community members.

Representatives from the Board of Education, Charles County Public Schools and the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head division, as well as Indian Head Mayor Ed Rice and Vice Mayor Dennis Scheessele, attended the event to show community support for the school.