Playground dedicated in memory of Susan Lipton

Friends, family members and colleagues of the late Susan Lipton, a physical therapist in the Canton Public Schools, spent the last year raising the money needed to support their dream of honoring Lipton’s memory and legacy by creating a playground at the Rodman preschool. Their successful efforts will be recognized on Saturday, June 14, with a dedication ceremony at the playground named in Lipton’s memory.

Susan Lipton with her grandson Brady

Lipton worked in the Canton school system for 24 years. She passed away from kidney cancer in November 2012. She believed that play and movement were necessary for child development. To sustain her strong belief in the power of movement for children, the Susan Lipton Memorial Committee purchased and installed six new pieces of equipment for the playground: a spinner, a train, a balance beam, and three bobbers. Each piece helps the 3 to-5-year-old students who attend the Rodman Early Childhood Program to build their skills.

“The bobbers help with promoting physical stimulation and movement; the tunnel is for movement on their hands and knees,” said Kyle O’Leary, an early childhood special educator and Lipton’s friend.

The tunnel also helps the children to increase their core strength. The balance beam allows them to work on their balance, and the spinner lets them build social skills.

The new pieces were installed about two weeks ago, according to O’Leary. “The children of the Rodman school are thoroughly enjoying them,” she said.

It took approximately 18 months for the committee to raise $20,000. The funds came from a yoga fundraiser in Norwood, a dinner at the Halfway Café, the generosity of family, friends, and the community, as well as donations from Rodman Ford, Canton Plumbing and Heating, the Melissa Rose Kradin Foundation, Inc., the Paul R. Matthews Charitable Foundation, Eastern Bank, the Bank of Canton, and the Dr. Arthur Tracey Cabot Trust Fund. The businesses will be acknowledged on a sign in the garden at the playground.

“We would like to thank everyone who made this possible,” O’Leary said. “We would also like to thank the School Committee and administrators who have been extremely helpful and supportive throughout this process.”

The dedication ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning at the Rodman playground, located at 960 Washington Street. In case of rain, the ceremony will be held in the Canton High School cafeteria. Light refreshments will be offered in the CHS cafeteria after the ceremony.

The members of the committee are Lipton’s son, Daniel Lipton; daughters Alexandra Lipton and Samantha Lipton Myerson, who teaches first grade at the Kennedy School; O’Leary; her friend Lisa Fireman; Debra Bromfield, Canton Public Schools’ director of student services; Amy Delaney, early childhood occupational therapist; Kerry Emde, early childhood teacher; Kelty Kelley, early childhood coordinator; Janeen Nemes, friend and former occupational therapist for the Canton Public Schools; Bailey Hewitt, school nurse at the Rodman; and Patricia Parks, early childhood speech and language pathologist.

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Posted by Mary Ann Price on Jun 12 2014. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.