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PLAY YARD
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The school play yard was renovated in
2009 and is dedicated to the those families in our St. Elizabeth
community who lost loved ones in 2001 on American Airlines Flight 587.
Their memory lives on in this beautiful outdoor space.
It is used both for recreation for
the After School Program, physical education classes, and sports, and
as a place for prayer and reflection. The play yard project
truly exemplifies our mission of educating the whole child. Within
this safe, beautiful space in the heart of Washington Heights,
students grow in physical wellness and spirituality.
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The renovations were funded by a
$20,000 Challenge Grant from the Endowment for Inner-City Education;
$40,000 in grants from The Betty Barrett and Juanita Bateman
Foundation; a $40,000 grant from The Barrett Foundation, Inc. (Father Joseph Sanches ‘53 was instrumental in obtaining these
grants); $2,000 from Ted Buczek and the Buczek Family, in memory of
his son Police Office Michael J. Buczek; donations from the Class of
1947 in honor of their 61st Anniversary Reunion; and many donations
from parents, alumni and friends.
Funding
is still needed in a number of areas. The yard still needs new
outdoor lighting for the safety of our After School Program and for
new doors, to replace the original ones and badly in need of repair. For more information, please
see our WISH LIST.
This is a great way to memorialize a family member or come together
with your graduating class. We are also still accepting engraved
bricks for the garden. Please fill out an order
form.
The St.
Elizabeth School play yard is dedicated to honor those who
died in the crash of American Airlines Flight 587, bound for the
Dominican Republic in 2001. The neighborhood of Washington Heights
suffered a great loss; St. Elizabeth Parish held funeral masses for 11
of the victims. The victims and their families were remembered in prayer at the
dedication in 2002 and anniversary remembrance in 2003, which featured
student speakers, art projects and music.
Initial renovations were provided by a Neighborhood Grant from Columbia
University Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, and the New
York State Psychiatric Institute, and
from individual donors, will be part of a plan of fund-raising and
beautification of the space.
Please see pictures
of the Dedication Ceremony and pictures
of the bricks.
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