Hansen unveils outdoor classroom and playground
By Guest
Principal Peter Boucher welcomes families to the Hansen Family Picnic and thanks those who made the new playground and outdoor classroom a reality. (Moira Sweetland photo)
“Team Hansen” is what it has been called since Peter Boucher stepped in as interim principal of the Lt. Peter M. Hansen School in September of 2011. The phrase “dream team” doesn’t begin to cover it.
In the last year and a half, not only has Boucher created a team atmosphere among students, faculty and parents, but his “Expectations of Excellency” have surpassed the community’s expectations of what a small suburban elementary school can accomplish.
On Friday, May 10, the Hansen School celebrated the completion of its new Outdoor Learning Center and newly installed playground. Both projects were lofty goals, but as Boucher teaches, if you work as a team and can dream it, you can do it.
Parent and school volunteer Kathy Anderson was the lead writer on a grant to Lowe’s to fund the Outdoor Learning Center. Through the grant donation and the support of dozens of local businesses who donated their “time, treasure or talent” as Boucher puts it, the learning center will provide a space students can learn outside and a venue to learn the art of public speaking.
The new playground, designed specifically for students in kindergarten through second grade, was made possible by an anonymous Hansen family’s generous pledge to honor a three-to-one match up to $45,000. So Team Hansen got to work and parent volunteers reached out to local businesses and Hansen alumni, conducted raffles, and even had their students do jumping jacks for dollars so that they could help to build their new playground. In a few short months, the $15,000 was raised, the $45,000 that was pledged was generously donated, and the playground was being planned.
Team Hansen, under the leadership of Boucher and with the hard work of many parents, will continue planning, fundraising, and of course, dreaming. But on Friday night at the annual Hansen Family Picnic, they celebrated the accomplishments they have made in less than two short years.
Submitted by Sue Sweenie
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