Olalla Musical Garden Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Olalla Elementary held a ribbon cutting ceremony (4/12/2023) to open the musical instruments for play to our students and look forward to families and the community enjoying them as well!

In 2019, the front historic playground at Olalla Elementary was deemed too historic and unsafe.  All play structures were taken out which left a large blank canvas to fill.  With a committee of teacher and staff, a sensory garden with several areas to provide interactive play and exploration were agreed upon. 

A landscape plan and design of the space were created and approved. Encouraging creativity and stimulation, touching on all of the senses, the following areas were included in the plan: music instruments-ears, texture pathway-touch, an array of colorful plants/flowers -eyes and nose, rock labyrinth-mindfulness. Additionally, a stage and amphitheater area was planned. 

All of these areas complete our goal:

1. provide a platform for learning, creating, feeling, communicating, sharing, and self-expression
2. promoting physical, social, and cognitive development through interactive play
3. bring the classroom outside and broaden our student learning  

After pricing the musical instruments, that portion of the project seemed out of reach and unobtainable. In 2022, Sarah Wrigley (Playground Attendant, at Olalla Elementary) decided to apply for a grant from the South Kitsap Public Education Foundation. 

"Knowing I was asking for a large amount, I really didn't expect to be a recipient.  What a complete surprise to find out that I was awarded an $8000 grant! Moving forward was so exciting and slowly the garden started shaping up." 

We owe a big thanks to the manpower of staff, families, and community volunteers who gave countless hours of their summer break moving dirt, rock, gravel, and bark.  We couldn't have done all that work without the machinery and know-how of our District Facilities team. 

 After waiting out the ordering process, shipping delays, and weather, installation finally took place during Spring Break!

Thank you South Kitsap Public Education Foundation!!!!