Webster Hill Elementary School is the only West Hartford school in the running for a new playground, and is asking for the community’s help.

Sample TerraCycle playground

Submitted by Melissa Lindquist, PTO Co-President, Webster Hill School

Webster Hill Elementary School is trying to win much-needed new playground equipment. Webster Hill is seeking the help of the West Hartford community to help bring a state-of-the-art playground made from recycled products to our town! No other schools in town are participating in this contest to win this equipment.

The contest is being sponsored by TerraCycle, Colgate and ShopRite. Webster Hill School is currently in third place, behind schools in New York State and Southington, CT. The school that earns the most playground credits by June 13th wins the playground equipment.

How are playground credits earned? It’s easy. Voters enter their name and email address, and cast their vote for Webster Hill once daily at http://www.terracycle.com/colgateshopriteplayground. Multiple email addresses per household may be used as long as they are individually registered.  The first time a vote is cast, the voter is sent an email and asked to verify the email address. A voter is then allowed to vote on each subsequent day until theJune 13th deadline by simply going to the same website above and voting again.

Another way to get out the vote is through the donation of empty toothbrush and toothpaste boxes, empty toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, and empty floss containers. Local dental offices have been helping with this effort, and other West Hartford dental offices are encouraged to jump in. Each donation made on the school’s behalf counts as one vote. Donations benefitting Webster Hill Elementary School can be coordinated through Webster Hill’s PTO Co-President Melissa Lindquist at [email protected].

In addition to collecting these donations, the Webster Hill PTO is entering the names and email addresses of those who request assistance in casting their daily vote for Webster Hill.  The PTO can do this once an email address is confirmed as active. Contact Melissa Lindquist for vote casting assistance.

Webster Hill Principal Jeff Wallowitz said, “I am so proud of our PTO and team of dedicated parents and teachers who are working tirelessly to support our children. They have been collecting donations and entering the names and email addresses of those who wish to support the school’s efforts to win the TerraCycle playground equipment. I am not sure who would be more excited to win this equipment, the students, or the adults who have worked so hard to win for our students and the greater West Hartford community.”

Webster Hill Elementary School has long been a TerraCycle partner and continues to recycle juice pouches, plastic bottles and aluminum cans through the TerraCycle program. The school has a great track record for its recycling efforts, with a very active student Environment Global Group, which promotes environmental protection and conservation.