Aspen Elementary School Principal Michele Altherr cuts the ribbon Friday morning assisted by Aspen the Tiger. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Aspen Elementary School staff and students attend Friday morning’s ribbon cutting at the site of three new pieces of playground equipment purchased by the PTO. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Aspen Elementary School Natural Helpers, from left, Adrianna Dominguez, Annabel Irving and Lesley Lementino address students Friday morning during a ribbon-cutting event for three news pieces of playground equipment provided for the school by the PTO. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Aspen Elementary School students and Aspen, the Tiger show their appreciation Friday morning to the PTO for $30,000 to purchase some new playground equipment. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Aspen Elementary School staff, students and parents gathered Friday morning for a ribbon cutting for three newly-installed pieces of playground equipment at the school.

Over the past few years, Aspen has raised almost $30,000 to pay for the equipment through events such as the Tiger Trot and the Spring Fling as well as by collecting donations.

Karen Fortson, representing the PTO, told students the group hopes they love their updated playground equipment which she said provides more spinning and problem solving for them.

“I would like to publicly thank Greg Neal of Exerplay and Playscapers of Santa Fe for ensuring we had all the pieces and then installing the equipment at no cost to us as well as LA Transit Mix for delivering the concrete,” she said.

Fortson also thanked staff, parents, students and community leaders for supporting all the PTO’s fundraising efforts.