BRRRR. It's cold outside, but time to choose the playground equipment...

Students, Parents, Teachers, Staff and Community Members

Join us Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 6 p.m. in room 123 at the school to choose the playground equipment and colors.  Miracle playground vendor representative Mr. Day will share a mock up drawing from the input of choices voted on by the community from the Design Day.

Posted: January 24, 2012 at 12:43 AM

Community Design Day

Fall Festival & New Community Playground Design Day
Saturday, November 12th
11a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
Cafeteria & Gym @ IPS 70 (E. 46th St. & Central Avenue)

Vote on new playground design
Fall Festival Games
Free Pizza

Posted: November 04, 2011 at 01:06 PM

Task Update: Introduction to fundraising

Sponsorship opportunities for business and individual exist for the New Community Playground, see project files, starting as low as $100! To date, we have raised $8,397.31 and would like to bring in an additional $3,000 to incorporate an outside classroom and new marquee for the school as well. Any additional funds raised will be used for ongoing maintenance of the playground.

Posted: June 21, 2011 at 12:54 PM

Join us at the annual school concert & PTO Meeting, 5/17 @ 6:30 p.m.

Annual school performance and PTO meeting at Broad Ripple Magnet High School.
Tuesday, May 17th
6:30 p.m.

We will be announcing the grade winner of the Pennies for Our Playground FUNraising project that the students did this school year and that will be continuing at local businesses this summer.  The grade that raised the most will get to play on the new playground 1st and have a pizza party!

Posted: May 16, 2011 at 03:14 PM

Task Update: Set a fundraising target

established $65,100 budget in October last year with FUNraising at $11,500 w/ KaBOOM Partner

Posted: May 12, 2011 at 04:08 PM

MKNA Home & Garden Tour Booth Volunteers Needed

Volunteers to man a booth to promote the New Community Playground, school and sell bottled waters during the MKNA Home & Garden Tour, June 18th & June 19th are needed.  The booth will be located at a home on the tour.

Volunteer shifts are 10:45 a - 1 p, 1 p - 3p and/or 3 p -5 p.  Please call or email Merry, 956-3333 or mjuerling@indy.rr.com to volunteer.
We can build it!  Yes, we can!

Posted: May 12, 2011 at 04:04 PM

Vi Walker Neighborhood Grant Awarded

The PTO applied for and was awarded a $2500 grant towards the New Community Playground Project through Meridian Kessler Neighborhood Association. 

With this grant, $8229 has been raised this year and only $3270 is needed so that we can do the side projects of a new markee for the school and an outside classroom.

With a bit more to go on FUNraising, construction will not be completed on the school until mid July and KaBOOM! Partners wanting to work with schools during the school year, the build date is moving to late September or early October.

Posted: May 12, 2011 at 04:00 PM

Other FUNraising Strategies

Overall, we will look to:

Foundations & Corporations ($500 + donations)
Individuals & Small Businesses ($100-$500 donations)
Individuals (0.01 - $100 donations

The previous feedback request encompassed ideas for the last of these groups. Do you have any suggestions for what individuals, corporations and small businesses we could request money and grants from the first two groups?

Posted: September 25, 2010 at 09:45 PM

Vendor research

While there are many playground and surface vendors to choose from, I am thinking that we might want to stay with the KaBOOM preferred vender for the playground, Playworld Systems, because should we be matched for a sponsor, then we would have to use this vendor. Their website is:

http://www.playworldsystems.com/

Keeping in mind that the students will be helping to design the playground, I found I liked the following playground systems best:
Playmakers & Challengers
Adventure Series
Activo *my favorite

I also like the Explorers Music Center panels with the star and moon holes in the overhanging metal panel.

What colors do you think would go well with the school and neighborhood? Are the certain parts of a playground you really like? My favorite was always the see-saw. Take a look at Playworld System's website. Which systems do you find you like the most?

Posted: September 15, 2010 at 10:14 PM

Play Date: A Jazzy Benefit

What a fabulous event! What awesome volunteers! What great music! What fantastic food! What a great time was had by all!

The count is in......drum roll, please....we raised $1,732.83!!! Thank you to all who attended, those special donations, all who bid on silent auction items and all who chipped into the Pennies for Our Playground buckets at the event. We could not have done without you!

This brings our total funds raised to date as:
$2,493.69

Posted: March 03, 2011 at 10:25 PM

Just a bit more volunteers needed for Saturday's event

Volunteers needed for an enjoyable evening on 2/19!
In exchange for your time and talents, free admission to the New Community Playground project's "Play Date: A Jazzy Benefit" this Saturday, 2/19 @ Northwood Christian Church. The following are volunteer positions that are needing to be filled:

Parking Lot Attendants
Set-up Assistance 3p.m.-5p.m.
Check-In Table
Ushers/ Flow Persons
Stage Set-Up Person
Stage Tear-Down
Silent Auction Runners

Please contact Cynthia Vaughn at 496-0787 or cyberlady@sbcglobal.net. Thank you. We can build it! Yes, we can!

Posted: February 16, 2011 at 11:33 PM

Volunteers needed for 2/19 Benefit

To ensure the February benefit will run smoothly, volunteers are needed to help with the areas and times below. If you can donate your time and/or talents, please contact Cynthia Vaugh at cyberlady@sbcglobal.net or 496-0787 with your name, email address, phone number(s)and volunteer position of interest.
• Delivery Drivers to get food from local restaurants [5:30 – 6:30 & 6:30 – 7:30]
• Food: setting out, keeping warm and filled [5:30-7 and 6:45 – 8:15]
• Parking Lot Attendees [6:30-7:30]
• Set up (tables, chairs, decorations, etc.) [3:30-5]
• Check-In Table: Tickets & Auction Bidding # Registration [6:30 – 7:30 & 7:30-8:30]
• Raffle Ticket Sales
• Silent Auction: Manning tables, answering questions and closing/tallying bids
• Ushers for lobby, restrooms, etc. [6:30-7:30 & 7:30-8:30]
• Stage Set-up [2 p – 5 p]
• Stage Tear-down [9 p – 10 p]
• Silent Auction Cashiers [8:30 until]
• Silent Auction Runners [8:30 until]
• Clean Up/Tear [9-9:30]

Posted: February 05, 2011 at 11:24 PM

A Jazzy Benefit, 2/19 @ Northwood Christian Church

Check out the project update file and A Jazzy Benefit poster!

Tickets for the benefit are only $10! A generous donation of a One-year VIP Pass to the Vogue worth $1000 will be raffled off for $5 per ticket and silent auction will be held at the event. Enjoy local jazz musicians and a fanfare of local tastes.

Hope to see all of you there!

Posted: January 31, 2011 at 08:13 PM

Volunteers needed 12/21 to 12/23

Dear Community of Nicholson Performing Arts Academy @ IPS 70,

During the next few days, a critical step towards our Musical Event on February 19th to raise funds for our New Community Playground will be occurring. Volunteers are needed to help canvas businesses in Meridian Kessler and Broadripple, presenting Sponsor/Donor Request Letters and asking for an investment in our community.

If you would be available during the following dates and times, please join us at the Star Bucks in Broadripple (Guilford & Broadripple Avenue) where copies of the volunteer directions and letters and canvas areas will be available for pick up. If you are not available during the following times and can help at other times, please call Merry Juerling at 317/956-3333. We would like to get all areas covered by Thursday this week.

Tuesday, Dec. 21 3p - 5p
Wednesday, Dec. 22 3p-5p
Thursday, Dec. 23 Noon - 2

Thank you for making this Community Project successful. We can build it! Yes, we can!

Merry Juerling & Ross Beyer
Playground Chair Musical FUNraising Event Chair

Posted: December 20, 2010 at 11:21 PM

Pennies for Our Playground

The student's Pennies for Our Playground project launched Thanksgiving break and the students brought in an average of almost 25 cents per student in just three school days, totaling $81.28!

Posted: December 04, 2010 at 09:56 AM

Correction on February 19th Musical FUN-raising Event

The timing of the event is tenative for 7-9 p.m.

Posted: November 07, 2010 at 08:43 AM

9 months until build day...

Wow, 9 months seems like a long time, but I know the time will fly by quickly.

We have a date! Please mark February 19, 2011 on your calendar for our Musical FUN-raising event. The event will be at Northwood Christian Church (southwest corner of East 46th Street and Central Avenue) from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. If you are interested in working on the Food, Decorations or Silent Auction parts of this event, please contact Merry Juerling at 317/956-3333.

This month:
1) Project Presentation at School Staff Meeting, 11/3
2) KaBOOM on Partnership Application determination
3) Project Presentation at Meridian Kessler Neighborhood Association Board Meeting, 11/11, 6:30 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church
4) Formation of Planning Committee.

We can build it! Yes, we can!

Posted: November 06, 2010 at 09:20 PM

MIBOR Grant through MKNA

Metropolitan Board of Realtors (MIBOR) offers community investment grants and Meridian Kessler Neighborhood Association (MKNA) [the neighborhood association of the school's neighborhood] has graciously agreed to submit a grant request for our New Community Playground.

Working with the wonderful Meghan Martin, MKNA's Grants Chair, the grant application is in process and will be finalized this week! We should hear of possible grant awarding in December.

Posted: October 27, 2010 at 07:56 PM

KaBOOM Partner Grant Submitted

Thank you to Josefa Beyer for her wonderful editing provided for our grant application to KaBOOM.

The application was submitted today and we will hopefully hear back within about a month.

Posted: October 27, 2010 at 07:51 PM

Community Meeting Information

Wow! What an exciting group we had on Saturday, October 16th!

An extra special thank you, Principal Phelps, coming in on a Saturday morning and for allowing us to have the Community meeting during the extra busy time of boxing up the school for the move to IPS 87 as we get ready for construction/renovation to begin.

I believe those that attended were inspired as we received some great and wonderful ideas, like: MIBOR grant possibility through MKNA, Music Event fundraiser, Art Event fundraiser, lots of PR ideas, etc.

We are wrapping up the KaBOOM grant and working on the MIBOR grant with MKNA this and next week.

A great idea of manning tables at the election poles at the school, 1st Presbyterian Church and Northwood Christian Church is another to-do item we are working on toward the obtainment of the needed 200 volunteers.

Several documents and pictures have been uploaded to the site from the Community Meeting: PowerPoint Presentation, Project Timeline Planner as of 10/16/2010, Aerial View of the school and playground area (Thank you Mr. Beyer!), the Architect's drawing of the school renovation with playground area outlined.

A lot of things going on...check back often.

Merry Juerling
Playground Committee Chair

Posted: October 18, 2010 at 11:14 PM

Task Update: Prepare a budget and set a fundraising goal

Thank you Bill Trussell for the first donation given to the project when he was handed a flyer about the Community Meeting on October 16th!

Posted: October 15, 2010 at 07:30 PM

Task Complete: Raise your first dollar!

Thank you Bill Trussell for the first donation given to the project when he was handed a flyer about the Community Meeting on October 16th!

Posted: October 15, 2010 at 07:30 PM

Community Meeting Neighborhood Flyer

Can you walk, skip or run? Do you like the fresh air of the outdoors? Do you like to take your dog on a walk? Do you and your children need some family exercise time? Then, this easy volunteer opportunity is for you and your
family!

Help is needed to pass out the Community Meeting flyer to the neighborhood community of Nicholson Performing Arts Academy @ IPS 70 for our upcoming Community Meeting, Saturday, October 16th @ 10 a.m. at the school. If you have a student at the school, you should have already received this flyer via your student's Friday folder.

We have a list of 27 neighborhood blocks, # of parcels and estimated time for each block. While my son & I covered two blocks with 35 parcels (homes or businesses) in about 45 minutes we were knocking on doors, introducing ourself, talking about the KaBOOM Community Playground Project and general socialization and networking, this is not required. If you are feeling socialable, this is quite welcome to help get neighborhood participation in the project and general PR for the school. I met Ms. Belange's daughter and found out some historical
information about the school. The estimated times for each block below include socialization time. If you just want to pass out the flyers and not knock on doors, this is welcome as well and the estimated time per block will be greatly reduced.

WARNINGS: We CANNOT put these flyers in mailboxes as because it is federal offense because it is not postmarked mail. Placing it in a newspaper holder, on
the door knob, between the weather strip and the front door or handing it to person is acceptable. If it is a business, please ask for the owner or manager.
If the owner/manager is not available, please ask the worker to give it to the owner/manager. If you have your children help, please remind them to be SAFE and not go into anyone's home...a buddy system is recommended for you and your children.

Stacks of yellow flyers for each block will be available in the Parent Center, Ms. Gordon's office, beginning at 11 a.m. on Monday. Please fill out the volunteer distribution form with your name for the blocks that you take to
distribute. If you would like to help and are not able to pick up flyers during school hours, please call me at 695-1720 to arrange a time to pick up flyers.

Thank you. We can build it! Yes, we can!
Merry Juerling
Playground Committee Chair

Posted: October 11, 2010 at 03:45 AM

Neighborhood Community Meeting

What: Neighborhood Playground Community Meeting
Date: Saturday, October 16, 2010
When: 10 a.m. until noon
Where: Nicholson Performing Arts Academy (46th & Central)

Overview of Community Project and Sub-Committees

Posted: October 10, 2010 at 01:11 PM

Task Update: Gather basic information about the project

site will be at school

Posted: September 25, 2010 at 05:44 PM

Mile Marker 4 webinar: Design

The Mile Marker 4 webinar is about Design Day and includes a multitude of information on:

Holding a Design Day

Sending ideas to the Playground Equipment Vendor

Selecting a Playground Design

Creating press materials & getting media involved

Accelerating youth involvement

Posted: September 25, 2010 at 10:58 PM

Mile Marker 3 webinar

Lessons from Mile Marker 3 webinar:

FUNraising:
Begin with Grant opportunities, focusing on education, health & human services (like accessibility for example)grants. Develop grant information including: Executive Summary, Statement of Need, Project Description and Conclusion.

Next, plan Special Events for FUNraising, making sure to involve the students and community. Some ideas were Krispy Kreme Donuts for 50% profit, Pennies for Our Playground, Weekly Spaghetti or Other donated dinners and Car Washes where the costs are low and profits are high.

Recruiting Volunteers:
Try focusing on local organizations, like Rotary or Kiwanis Clubs, or Legions, that require their members to commit to volunteer hours.

Define Construction Cost:
Depending on the type of surface used, the grading of the playground area will need to be 2% for loose fill surface and 1% for concrete. The surface question has been posed to Schmidt & Associates and waiting feedback.

Create a website:
One more item accomplished!

Posted: September 25, 2010 at 10:20 PM

Mile Marker 2 webinar

Coming Soon... Community Build Meeting

We will be inviting parents, teachers, staff, neighbors, organizations, businesses to join in a meeting to discuss this Community Project and start on Sub-Committee work.

Posted: September 25, 2010 at 06:40 PM

Task Update: Support fundraising events

picture will be added once drawings are received from architect so that new playground compared to old may be viewed

Posted: September 25, 2010 at 05:46 PM

Task Complete: Add a project photo!

picture will be added once drawings are received from architect so that new playground compared to old may be viewed

Posted: September 25, 2010 at 05:46 PM

Task Complete: Research possible sites

site will be at school

Posted: September 25, 2010 at 05:44 PM

Task Update: Finalize schedule for meals and snacks

forgot to title the discussion right, but went back and added it as a comment

Posted: September 15, 2010 at 08:01 PM

Task Update: Finalize list of food and drink donors

Finished checking out KaBOOM Toolkit and posting discussion.

Posted: September 15, 2010 at 08:59 PM

Task Update: Create a mission and vision

started account, blog and application

Posted: September 15, 2010 at 07:29 PM

People and groups that can help our project

It takes a village...(You'll find this is one of my favorite sayings)

Please think about this: our community is the geographic area that not only covers the school neighborhood, but also covers all of IPS because we are a magnet school!!!!

What are your talents that you could donate to this cause? What organizations do you belong to?

Do you know someone that works in fundraising, construction, landscaping, public relations, restaurant or catering, logistics, warehousing, safety, with the disabled, recycling, soil testing, utilities, broadcasting, radio or an office? Look at the following link and I bet you can come up with at least 2 contacts that would be willing to donate time, items and/or money to this worthy cause.

http://kaboom.org/docs/documents/pdf/community_assets_map.pdf

If you think of an organization that might be willing to help, please send me an email (mjuerling@indy.rr.com) or call me (956-3333). Invite your contacts, friends, family, neighbors and organizations to join our project by giving them our website address:

http://projects.kaboom.org/nicholson-performing-arts

It takes a village...let's start rounding up the villagers' contact information!

Posted: September 15, 2010 at 10:36 PM

Site Selected

Well, part of the Road Map is chosing the site...That's one item done as it will be at the school :-)

Posted: September 15, 2010 at 09:26 PM

Task Complete: Check out the online KaBOOM! Toolkit

Finished checking out KaBOOM Toolkit and posting discussion.

Posted: September 15, 2010 at 08:59 PM

KaBOOM! Toolkit

The KaBOOM Toolkit is a website of a vast array of information and tools for all committees, including Volunteer Recruitment, Fundraising, PR, Food, Children's Activities, Logistics, Safety, Construction, Community Involvement and Accessibility. There is also information on making our build day 'Green' through recycling. The website is:

http://kaboom.org/build_playspace/toolkit/community_involvement

I found the link to The Asset-Based Community Development Institute (ABCD) most interesting:

http://www.abcdinstitute.org

If you are interested in Chairing or participating in one of the above sub-committees, please contact Merry Juerling @ 317/956-3333 or mjuerling@indy.rr.com.

Posted: September 15, 2010 at 08:57 PM

Task Complete: Watch the Mile Marker 1 Roadmap webinar

forgot to title the discussion right, but went back and added it as a comment

Posted: September 15, 2010 at 08:01 PM

Playground Safety

After watching the Mile 1: Research online training, part of the application process is determining the safety factors of our current playground. Is anyone interested in researching if ASTM International (national playground safety) has any surveys we may use to do this?

Posted: September 15, 2010 at 07:58 PM

Task Complete: Complete Mile 0

started account, blog and application

Posted: September 15, 2010 at 07:29 PM

Welcome to Nicholson Performing Arts!

Welcome as we begin our journey to a new playground for Nicholson Performing Arts!

While everyone is looking forward to the renovations of the school (especially air conditioning!), planning is now beginning for a new playground. If you are interested in participating on this PTO Committee, please contact Merry Juerling at mjuerling@indy.rr.com or 317/956-3333.
The build date is tenatively set for Saturday, August 6th.

Posted: September 13, 2010 at 07:42 AM