New playground at St. Joan of Arc School is ‘a dream come true’

St. Joan of Arc School principal Mary Pat Sharpe of Indianapolis, left, cuts the ribbon on new playground equipment with help from Suzi Abell, right, director of curriculum and the art teacher, during a Sept. 22 dedication ceremony at the Indianapolis North Deanery parish. The school’s Monarch Parc was dedicated in Sharpe’s honor for six years of exceptional service to the students. (Photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By Mary Ann Wyand

Second graders Chandler Sims, Jaden Payne and Lily Johnson couldn’t wait to climb on the new playground equipment at St. Joan of Arc School in Indianapolis.

“I think it will be nice because we’ll have a lot more room to play,” Lily said after the Sept. 22 dedication ceremony. “We won’t have to rush to the swings anymore [during recess].”

St. Joan of Arc Parish’s new Monarch Parc playground adjacent to the school, church and Marian shrine is “a dream come true,” said Mary Pat Sharpe, who has served as the principal for six years.

Sharpe helped plan the playground design and assisted with fundraising projects which raised $33,000, but had no idea that the new parish park would be dedicated in her honor.

“I was very surprised,” she said, moments after the announcement at the beginning of the dedication ceremony for the new physical fitness equipment, which includes two slides, a balance beam, parallel bars, a climbing wall and two spring riders that resemble monarch butterflies, the school mascot.

“It’s here because so many parents have been so supportive,” Sharpe explained. “They want it for their children.”

The brightly colored and durable playground equipment cost $27,000 plus installation fees, she said, and will serve the school, parish and neighborhood children for many years as a visible symbol of vitality in the center city.

“This is a happy place for children and we want to get that message out,” Sharpe said. “We’re doing lots of great things here, and this is one of those examples from the parents. It’s really exciting.”

She said the hard work of 171 students, their parents and school staff members as well as the generosity of parishioners and other donors resulted in yet another “Miracle on 42nd Street” for the Indianapolis North Deanery parish at the corner of Central Avenue and 42nd Street.

“Last year, all the classes raised money and the parents raised money,” Sharpe said, “and we did a school ‘Growing the Arts’ fundraiser.”

The playground swings were installed about eight years ago, she said, but there was no other outdoor fitness and recreational equipment for students.

Suzi Abell, director of curriculum and the art teacher, said Families Supporting Faculty, the school’s parent-teacher organization, led the fundraising efforts.

“We started out just asking for individual donations,” Abell said, “and then we had a ‘Growing the Arts through Play’ party with all the proceeds going to the playground project instead of to the [school’s] arts and cultural enrichment fund. We were able to raise $33,000. One of the other portions of the project was to tie in with our wellness plan. We’re finding that children are lacking in their upper body strength the most so the majority of the fitness equipment is designed to be used for [exercising] their upper body.”

Abell said “St. Joan of Arc School has truly undergone the most transformation during [Sharpe’s] time here so it was only appropriate that she be recognized.”

During the ceremony, eighth graders Marshall Conley and Graham Barney told the gathering of students, faculty, staff, parents and parishioners that “Mrs. Sharpe has transformed our school into a more successful learning environment.”

Under her leadership, Marshall and Graham explained, the students’ ISTEP (Indiana Standard Testing for Educational Progress) scores nearly doubled and new technology was installed in classrooms.

Children up to age 12 can play on the outdoor equipment, Abell said, which will serve most of the grade school students as well as the pre-kindergarten students, preschool students and “Mini-Monarchs” enrolled in the school’s childcare program.

“Physical activity is so important for all children,” said Jennifer Schaefer, assistant principal and the school’s learning center director. “This playground equipment gives the kids a chance to come outside for exercise and recreation.”

Schaefer said several parents will volunteer as playground monitors three days a week when the students do not participate in physical education classes.

“With the addition of the parent support,” she said, “students are able to get fitness [activities] in every day.”

Father Guy Roberts, pastor, said St. Joan of Arc’s new playground will be open for neighborhood use when school is not in session.

“Parents and children are certainly welcome to use the park,” he said. “We want it to be open for community use as long as it is respected and taken care of. The park will close at dusk.”

He said it is fitting that the new park was dedicated in the principal’s honor.

“She is very much loved by the students,” Father Roberts said. “She’s helped to bring the school out of a bit of a slump and move us forward. That’s been her goal—to make us a Catholic school for the 21st century.” †