Volunteers Jump In At Pine Middle School
To Help Track And Field Students
Reno, NV (Feb. 7, 2011) - Pine Middle School students can now long jump to new lengths after a few local volunteers donated their time and resources to extend two existing sand pits and install a new pit on campus.
Last week, a group of volunteers, including Pine track coach Jencie Fagan, parent Dennis Cerfoglio and his daughter Kayla Cerfoglio, parent Doug Bohall, Ken Benna and Bruno Benna of Rilite Construction and Ken Mercurio of Diversified Concrete, contributed to extending two pits from 16 feet in length to 20 feet and building a third pit to accommodate a growing program at the middle school.Fagan estimates about $6,000 in materials and labor were donated to this project.
Fagan said about 200 Pine students participate in track and field, which increased from 166 students last year.
"This is going to be beautiful," Fagan said. "I think with the evolution of man, we're getting good jumpers and you want to make the pits safe for them."
The volunteers completed the project earlier this month with 2-feet-by-12-feet slabs of wood from Home Depot, sand from Rilite Construction and the use of a backhoe from Diversified Concrete. Fagan said the original pits were in need of extensions because some students were clearing the pits and landing on grass. They were also in need of a proper runway to help prevent injuries.
"These kids are still learning how to run," Fagan said. "They need longer runways. I have a runway they run on - not concrete - so they don't get shin splints."
Dennis Cerfoglio and his daughter Kayla, a seventh grader at Pine, said it was a worthwhile project.
"I think it would be a worthy investment for any school right now," said Dennis, an employee of the Washoe County Air Quality Management Division who approached Home Depot about donating the wood for the pits. "With the economic times, nobody can afford to do anything. It's good for the community to have stuff
like this and you don't want anybody jumping out of a pit that's too short. It's all about the kids."
Kayla said she works with her father on other projects as well. She said she looks forward to watching her classmates enjoy jumping in the new sand.
"It just feels like you can fly," Kayla said of the long jump. "I hope that kids will use these pits."
Fagan, a self-described project-oriented educator, said she has more projects planned to improve Pine. She has raised $38,000 to resurface the school's tennis courts and that task will be completed this spring. She also hopes to upgrade the large gym's audiovisual system. The current 34-year-old projector needs to be replaced along with a screen and speakers. Fagan is contributing $1,500 to get that effort started but is seeking $27,815 to cover the total cost of the replacement.
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About Washoe County School District: The
Washoe County School District includes the Reno/Sparks metropolitan
area, Incline Village, Gerlach, Empire and Wadsworth, Nevada. The
District provides each of its 63,000 students with a superior education
in a safe and challenging environment and is committed to graduate every
child career and college ready.
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Washoe County School District
425 East Ninth Street
Reno, NV 89520
