Pasadena mayor to open Altadena school playground

From Jackson Elementary School

A newly painted math courtyard to teach interval counting and promote physical activity will be unveiled during a ribbon cutting during Jackson’s first-ever community Jackson Field Day on Saturday, May 31^st.

Jackson’s first Field Day includes game booths, prizes, raffle prizes, obstacle course, face painting, food pony rides, stomp rockets, veggie car races, DJ and dancing.  Jackson Elementary parents conceived of the idea and with volunteers and staff have met weekly to produce this first-time event in order to help raise funds for Jackson playground upgrades.

MATHEMATICAL COURTYARD:  Squares, triangles, circles, and diamonds painted in bright colors display rows that show students how to count by 2s and up to 12s. Students can enjoy the numbers during recess and teachers can incorporate the area in a learning activity. The project added vibrant hues to the previously cement courtyard.

The layout of 100 shapes measuring almost two feet by two feet was created by Jackson Elementary parent volunteers and additional volunteers from the school, the organization Big Sunday, and staff with the Pasadena Unified School District helped paint in red, blue, and yellow.

The Program begins at 11:45 a.m with Mayor Bill Bogaard ribbon cutting ceremony will be with PUSD Board President Scott Phelps and PUSD DOM Kahlil Harrison along with Principal Rita Exposito. Jackson Honorary Committee members expected to attend are Bill Creim, Pasadena Educational Foundation Board; Elizabeth Pomeroy, PUSD Board, Wendy Anderson representing Pasadena Rotary Club along with parents, neighbors and the community.  Anthony Portantino, former Assemblyman in the 44^th district, will lead the Math Scavenger Hunt at 2:15 pm.

Jackson Elementary is a designated Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Magnate and Dual Language Immersion Program (DLIP) school with courses offered in English and Spanish.

The math courtyard is the latest in improvements to the school during the past year that include a garden used in cooking and science classes and additional trees planted with the help of students from John Muir High School and the Amigos de Los Rios.