Schools

Kittredge Gym Fundraising Begins

At this year's Town Meeting, the town voted to build Kittredge Elementary School a gym.

Town Meeting approved funding for the new gym, estimated at about $900,000, but it turns out that's not enough. So school administration is asking parents to chip in.

"Unfortunately, due to an increase in the cost of building supplies from the time the project was spearheaded to present, we are at a deficit to support a fully appointed gymnasium for our students," Kittredge School Principal Richard Cushing said in a letter to parents seeking donations. "Although the generous backing from North Andover will cover the building itself it does not allow for a few major interior items specifically, hardwood flooring, basketball hoops, and wall padding."

So the school, in cooperation with the PTO, will have an aggressive fundraising campaign to make up the difference between what the town will spend and what the gym will cost. Groundbreaking is planned for december, so they're racing against the clock.

The fundraising will kick off with "Corks for Courts" at Stachey's on Oct. 2 from 5 to 8 p.m. You can head over there and enjoy some great food and wine while bringing the Kittredge School closer to their goal.

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Tickets are $75. Space is limited to 125 people. Contact Cheryl Means at: corks4courts@gmail.com or 978-387-6170.

Here are all of the planned fundraisers:

Find out what's happening in North Andoverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Sponsorship & Major Donor Campaign: $1,000 - $20,000 Individuals, groups and corporate donors committed to the community cause.
  • Corks for Courts: Fundraising event organized by the Kittredge Gymnasium Capital Campaign Committee to kick start the campaign in style and create a buzz within the community to address the shortfall and critical need.
  • Kittredge Connects: Online social media campaign including a Facebook and online fundraising page to extend the reach of solicitation to all friends and supporters of health, fitness and the North Andover community.
  • Past, Present, Future Drive: Alumni drive soliciting direct support from all students, past, present and future of Kittredge Elementary.
  • Student Led Fundraising: In-school events such as Pennies for Padding to directly involve the Kittredge students in this critical initiative to positively affect the future of their school. 

You can donate directly at www.crowdrise.com/KittredgeGymnasium.

Currently North Andover's oldest open school, Kittredge is the only school without a gym. The hundreds of students attending the school must have physical education in the same place they eat, an area the school calls the "cafegymatorium."

"We are often challenged by the overwhelming need of this community space, resorting to PE in the classroom, outdoor classes, and reduced lunch time, we are literally busting at the seams," Kittredge School Principal Richard Cushing said.


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