Charter Schools and Children

Valor Public School is located next to our new apartment.  Valor is a charter school*.  The building and temporary buildings held K through 12 grades.  For the past 7 months we have been the observing the building of an addition for a high-school with an attached gym.  In addition a new playground was put in place.  The old one was little more dirt, grass, and a few pieces of equipment.

Mid photo is where the old playground area was placed.  Little left except rubble on 6/13/23

Since school started in August, the children have been playing in a narrow strip of private driveway.  Once or twice they crossed to the park across the street where we live and had picnics.  For the last two months the new playground equipment began arriving in crates.   Assembly began in early January.  The kids watching the changes as they were passing on the way to schoon on that private street.

Prepping the future playground area.  Water retention area had major upgrades as well.

Finally crates were open and assembly began on January 5, 2024. 

On Sunday February 4 Hubby and I noticed a family on the completed playground.  The husband was stringing banners and tying up balloons.  As students arrived this morning, horns honked, kids were screaming, and a general state of excitement drifted up to our apartment.  I slept through the whole scene.  Hubby, who was dreading my procedure today, was a bit aggravated by the noise.  He soon recovered from the irritation as the children filled the completed playground at recess.  And I failed to get a photo.  But here is the silent playground this evening.

 

Each recess saw every piece of equipment crawling with kids at play.  The kids are required to wear uniforms with the girls in plaid, pleated skirts, shorts or leggings required.  So all the kids were upside down and all around.  I noticed the unique merry go round seemed to be a real favorite.  The merry go round is the blue circle nearest the retention pond.

Seeing those children at play brought a smile to my face.  Watching the joy, remembering the feel of a swing or a slide.  But mostly just enjoying watching kids at play.  Then, teachers counting heads as the kids lined up to return to the 'lessons'.

Hope each of you can enjoy a bit of the fun of recess this week.

Peace,

Janice

*An explanation of charter schools in Texas is:  "Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that are open to all students. The State of Texas grants charter schools the flexibility and freedom to meet students' individual needs— and in exchange, holds them to higher standards of academic and financial accountability than traditional school districts."     source