Cutchogue-East Elementary School Cuts Ribbon On New Playgrounds

NORTH FORK, NY — It was an exciting day for students recently as Cutchogue East Elementary School cut the ribbon on one of its new playgrounds.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new playground at Cutchogue East Elementary School, in the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District, took place earlier in September.

According to school officials, an elementary school playground is a symbol of unity, learning and the pursuit of excellence. The occasion not only marked the introduction of a vibrant space for play and exploration, but reflected the essence of the mission that defines the Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District, officials said.

"We are so excited to provide our students with two new playgrounds that include features meaningful to them and are ADA compliant where our students can play and learn together," said Superintendent of Schools Shawn Petretti.

Petretti said he wanted to thank Principal Amy Brennan for her leadership during the process, Student Leadership for their role in helping create the vision for the space, as well as the district's partners at Just Kids and the Cutchogue East PTA "for helping make this a reality."

The playground at Cutchogue East Elementary School was designed as a joint effort including the playground committee and the voices of the greater Cutchogue East student body, district officials said.

The playground committee included Student Leadership president, and now a Mattituck Junior High School seventh grader Ben DeSantis, along with now sixth graders Jack Connell, Heidi Irwin and Monte Lange, teachers Lydia Burns, Emily Cornelia and Emma Mirsky and PTA President,Kerri Chituk and PTA Vice President Dina Knudsen.

Other members of the committee included Superintendent of Schools Shawn Petretti, administrators and Director of Facilities Tom Kelly. The committees regularly met after school, researching playgrounds and finding inspiration.

During lunch and sometimes during recess, student members worked to create a Google form survey and a presentation to share with all the Cutchogue East students. They presented their survey to each classroom grades 3 to 6 asking students what parts of their current playground they enjoyed most and what were new features they would like to have in the new playground, district officials said.

The kids took their responsibilities seriously: Student leaders also visited each classroom grades K to 2 and shared a Google presentation they'd created with pictures of the current playground along with possible new features and structures. Additionally, the students designed playgrounds as part of their STEAM classes last year as the research and planning for a new playground continued, the district said.

A second playground was also built with the help of Just Kids, which will be primarily used for the UPK program, with kindergarten and first grade students also able to enjoy the space. Both playgrounds were constructed by American Recreation.

The playground for the primary grades came about through the district’s partnership with Just Kids, which runs the district’s Pre-K program at Cutchogue East Elementary School and rents the district’s Laurel School House for their pre-K special education program.

As their special education program was growing, Just Kids needed additional space and the district was able to provide a classroom at Cutchogue East to support that program’s needs. As part of the agreement, Just Kids utilized grant money to purchase and donate the additional playground; that playground was installed while the district was replacing the first playground, which had been installed more than 20 years ago, the district said.

The installation of the two playgrounds, along with the two Gaga pits this summer, enhanced an already beautiful space for both students and community residents that includes a walking path installed last summer, the district said.

"Both playgrounds are now ADA compliant and provide students with an inclusive space where they can learn, play and develop important lifelong skills while helping them achieve the vision of the district's mission statement," the district said.