Highlands Elementary School received a $10K donation for accessible playground equipment

AnnMarie Hilton, Appleton Post-Crescent
·3 min read

APPLETON – Just after 11 a.m. Thursday, the halls of Highlands Elementary School were lined with hundreds of smiling students chanting, “Thank you, John.”

Teachers wiped tears from their eyes watching the students shower John Schuessler and Princess, his 8-pound Maltese, with gratitude for his $10,000 donation toward accessible playground equipment.

“I’m glad I made a bunch of smiling faces,” he said.

Schuessler is the great-uncle of Lindsey Schrab, a student at Odyssey Magnet School, which is housed at Highlands. He heard about her raising money for the school’s annual Fun Run and decided that he could help. Schrab was so eager to help raise money so her classmates would have what they need to play that she missed swimming lesson, according to her mom, Michelle Schrab.

For Schuessler, choosing to donate came down to one simple reason: “To help the kids.” After spending more than two decades in the military, he said he’s seen people live with injuries and disabilities, so this is one way he can help other people.

During his parade through the hallways, Schuessler made a point to meet some of the students who will benefit most from his donation and paused to let the little hands pet Princess; an experience he said was "incredible."

What is the Fun Run?

Each year, the students raise money through pledges and concessions for the Fun Run. It's used to purchase new equipment or items the school needs. Last year, they raised money to buy a new dome climber for the playground.

Highlands Elementary and Odyssey Magnet School student Alondra Cruz hugs John Schuessler during a visit to the school. He the great-uncle of a current Odyssey student, who donated $10,000 to help build an inclusive and accessible playground for students of all abilities. Students gathered to thank him on Thursday, May 25, 2023 in Appleton, Wis. Students held an “All Kids Can Play” Fun Run with a goal of raise $10,000. They raised $8000 in addition to Schuessler’s donation Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

This year’s Fun Run took place on May 18. A group of sixth grade students who sit on the Fun Run promotion committee, including Norah Mocco, Ethan Xiong and Cooper Coenen, made posters and slideshows to get students excited for the event.

This year, the school community agreed the money should be raised for accessible playground equipment.

Dana Coenen, a social emotional learning teacher and secretary of the parent teacher organization, said she has been inspired by the students' efforts to make the playground a space for all children to enjoy.

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Why does Highlands need new playground equipment?

Students with disabilities from across the Appleton Area School District are bussed to Highlands because it has resources to serve students with intellectual disabilities, Autism and emotional behavioral disabilities. It also serves early childhood students with varying disabilities.

The inside of the building has extra-wide hallways and an elevator to help students in wheelchairs and with walkers move freely, said Principal Kari Krueger. But the outside space isn’t as inviting.

Krueger said the plan is to purchase spongy, rubber mats so wheelchair tires don’t get stuck in the grass and climbing equipment specialized for students with low muscle tone. They’d also like to add a fenced-in space for the youngest kiddos to play safely with more manageable supervision.

PTO Secretary and teacher Dana Coenen, left, Norah Mocco, Ethan Xiong, Cooper Coenen and principal Kari Krueger, right, part of the team that helped raise money to help build an inclusive and accessible playground for students of all abilities at Highlands Elementary and Odyssey Magnet School on Thursday, May 25, 2023 in Appleton, Wis. Students held an “All Kids Can Play” Fun Run with a goal of raise $10,000. They raised $8000 in addition to a $10,000 donation from John Schuessler Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

How much will it cost?

Total cost is estimated to be between $60,000 and $80,000, Krueger said.

How much have they raised so far?

So far, they’ve raised $18,000, including the $10,000 from Schuessler. Krueger said funding the whole project will probably take a few years.

When do they plan to open the new playground?

Krueger hopes at least some of the equipment can be added by next fall, but the timeline will depend on funding. As money is raised, the school will be able to add more of the equipment.

How can other people donate to the project?

People who wish to donate to the project can donate online through a GoFundMe that Coenen set up. It can be found at gofundme.com/f/all-kids-can-play-accessible-playground-fund.

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Reach AnnMarie Hilton at ahilton@gannett.com or 920-370-8045. Follow her on Twitter at @hilton_annmarie.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Highlands Elementary School in Appleton to add accessible playground