School’s not all work

Marisa O’Neil

Five-year-old Steven Richards clung to his mother’s hand as he eyed

the new playground equipment at Newport Heights Elementary School.

Soon, the equipment will become his second home. But for now, it’s

still an unfamiliar place.

His mother, Alicia Roberts, walked him over to the new, wooden

playhouse nicknamed “the surf shack,” and he smiled tentatively as he

watched his future classmates play inside.

Steven and dozens of other children got their first peek Thursday

morning at their teachers, principal and the brand-spanking-new

slides, monkey bars and other playground equipment.

“He’s a little nervous,” Roberts said as Steven buried his face in

her leg. “But this playground is nice. And he loves to play.”

The school hosted its first full-fledged welcome day Thursday for

the incoming kindergarteners, complete with teacher introductions and

a tour of the campus, said Newport Heights PTA President Terry

Torres. New principal Kurt Suhr, formerly principal at Rea Elementary

School, was on hand to welcome parents and students.

But the equipment and playhouse got the most attention.

Some students, like Steven and 4-year-old Rachel Davis, found the

whole experience a little overwhelming at first. Rachel tightly

clutched the hand of her grandmother, Margaret Hooper, as she toured

the playground, but declared the playhouse “cool.”

Unity Murray, 4, brought along her baby doll “Mafrika” for

company. She and her mother checked out the surf shack, which has a

kitchen table, window boxes and a sign pointing “to the beach.”

“I’m sure when she’s comfortable, this’ll be where she’s at,” her

mother Chandra Murray said, looking at the playhouse.

Once they got settled in, children charged to the playground.

“I love it,” 5-year-old Breeana Greenberg said after a trip across

the monkey bars.

The new equipment was acquired through a joint effort between

Newport-Mesa Unified School District and the Newport Heights School

Foundation, foundation President Jeff Chandler said. Through raffles,

donations and other fund-raising efforts, the foundation secured

about $50,000 in cash, equipment and services, he said.

The new playground includes new blacktop, basketball net, dining

tables, play equipment and the playhouse, custom-built by a Colorado

company, Chandler said.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.