The Friends of Fireside Fundraising Committee is saying goodbye to summer with a fundraising initiative.

Although Fireside School is not slated to open doors until November, a dedicated group of volunteers is hosting a Cochrane wide 'End of Summer Party' to help raise funds for the school's playground.

Even though Fireside is eligible to receive a $250,000 grant from the provincial government, President Laura McDonald, shares conversation with the RVS Board and other schools who have recently funded their own playground indicate an inclusive playground can cost anywhere from $400,000-$700,000. "Things that our board is very passionate about are expensive. For example, we will not compromise on a poured surface because we want children in walkers, wheelchairs, parents with strollers, anyone with a mobility device to be able to access the entire playground which rules out gravel and bark. We want a playground that is accessible with climbing structures and for kids of all ages and abilities; that just drives the price up."

The group is currently meeting with vendors to determine what kind of design they would like to see which McDonald is hoping to reveal at the End of Summer Party. "We are looking at potential playground designs and we're hoping at the party we can show the public the designs we have narrowed down our options to." The meeting will also determine what kind of budget the society will be fundraising toward.

Rather than wait to school was in, the group wanted an opportunity to bring the Cochrane community together. "We just want to have a big party say goodbye to summer as we prepare to move into back to school which can be stressful; and of course there is always the hope with a fundraising society that we're going to make some donations in the process. It will be a party in the park, entry by donation; and then there will be various activities that people can participate in either for free or by donation. We've got face painting, 4Cats Art Studio coming, we're going to have carnival games, a silent auction, a marketplace for vendors, a couple small food vendors, and bouncy castles. So it is going to just be a nice afternoon a nice sunny day and a chance to get together and raise a bit of money for Friends of Fireside."

McDonald shares there will be fun for kids of all ages and wants to stress it is open to everyone.

This is the first major fundraiser for Friends of Fireside which will be ramping up more fundraising efforts once the school officially opens.

McDonald knows they are lucky to receive the grant money and says down the road they would be more than willing to help RancheView School achieve their goal. RancheView School was announced in 2013 making it ineligible to receive funding. "We are so open to that; of course we would be so happy to combine our efforts it is a huge, huge, huge, goal to reach and the more we can help each other the better."

The End of Summer Party will be held at Mitford Park on  August 26 from 12 pm - 4pm. If you would like to follow Friends of Fireside School you can do here.

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