Washougal school gets new playground cover

Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School’s Booster Club has spent two years raising money for a new playground cover, and now they’ve finally reached their goal.

The new cover will be ready for this coming fall, by Sept. 1, according to Tammy Connolly, the Booster Club president. The club, made up of current students’ parents, originally thought it would take five years to raise the money, but parents were surprised at the school’s and community’s support.

“We were so thrilled,” said Connolly.

The Booster Club put on two different fundraising events: its annual Sport-A-Thon and a new endeavor — cookie dough sales. After each event, they had raised $5,000 to $6,000 for the Washougal school’s booster club.

“We talked about it for years, but we finally decided to get this done,” explained Connolly. “We told the teachers that their teachers’ fund would be limited in the years to come, and they were completely on board with it.”

Previously, most of the money from fundraising came from parents of current students. This year, with more advertising and the cookie dough sales, members of the community not directly associated with Cape Horn-Skye donated.

Families and businesses who donate more than $50 will have their names engraved on a permanent plaque on the structure.

Some businesses also made in-kind donations. Cemex contributed $2,000 worth of concrete. ERS donated full use of a scissor lift. M&D the House Doctors, McNealy Excavating, B&B Tile and Masonry, All Weather Wood Products and Papé Machinery also provided equipment and materials.

Since more money was raised than needed for the new playground cover, additional funds will go to teachers to support their classrooms, field trips, assemblies and school events.

Connolly said she was surprised at the amount generated for the project, including $16,000 from the cookie sales alone.

“The community really came together for this.”

Donations can still be mailed to Cape Horn-Skye Boosters, P.O. Box 583, Washougal, WA 98671.