Turf Field
In 2018, the Foundation funded a new synthetic turf field to replace the “dirt field” located behind the Kindergarten hallway and Annex. This major enhancement to our field benefits every student at Mt. Bethel and helped us achieve our mission in the following ways:
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ENRICH: The turf field provides both a safe and fun environment for the kids to use during recess and PE. It also provides space for outdoor events held at the school such as Field Day and PTA events such Concert on the Green and Spring Thing
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EMPOWER: There were many new units and games incorporated into our PE program due to the additional amount of space. Brain breaks/movement breaks took place immediately following a rain storm, and classroom teachers had more freedom to utilize the space without the worry of tracking in dirt or mud into the classroom environment.
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EXCEL: There is compelling research supporting a strong correlation between physical activity and academic performance.
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According to Active Living Research,
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"Physical activity can have both immediate and long-term benefits on academic performance. Almost immediately after engaging in physical activity, children are better able to concentrate on classroom tasks, which can enhance learning. Over time, as children engage in developmentally appropriate physical activity, their improved physical fitness can have additional positive effects on academic performance in mathematics, reading, and writing."
Per the CDC Physical Activity recommendation:
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Students who are physically active tend to have better grades, school attendance, cognitive performance (e.g., memory), and classroom behaviors (e.g., on-task behavior).14, 15
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Higher physical activity and physical fitness levels are associated with improved cognitive performance (e.g., concentration, memory) among students.14, 15
Per Time Magazine article:
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2009 study found that 8- and 9-year-old children who had at least one daily recess period of more than 15 minutes had better classroom behavior.
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Thank you for enriching the lives and education of all our children by supporting your Mt. Bethel Foundation!
YOUR donations MAKE a DIFFERENCE!
Why Synthetic Turf?
Today’s synthetic turf is designed to simulate the experience of practicing and playing on the best natural grass.
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At Mt. Bethel, our field is unable to be used after rain or lengthy periods of drought. It is uneven, muddy or dusty, and skinned knees or dirty shoes tracking into the building cause constant concern to the health and safety of our students and campus.
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Natural grass simply cannot remain lush and resilient if used more than three to four days a week, in snow or drought, or during months when grass doesn’t grow. This, coupled with an escalating need for durable fields that accommodate multiple teams and activities, the high cost of maintaining a grass sports field or landscape, and the need to conserve water, have prompted our desire to replace the current field with a quality product.
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Hundreds of studies have shown that the risk of injury is no different on high quality synthetic turf than natural grass. FIFA Quality Turf, in particular, has been extensively benchmarked and tested against natural grass for player safety and performance measures.
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What type of maintenance is required, and who pays for maintenance?
The field needs to be brushed every year, and regular checks for maintenance are conducted. Each year, the Foundation’s budget allocates a fixed amount for maintenance.
How long will the turf last, and who pays for the replacement?
The turf field has a lifespan of about 10-12 years, depending on its condition. The funding for the initial turf installation in 2018 was a one-time capital expense that the Foundation was able to pull from accumulated reserves. To fund a replacement turf field, the Foundation sets aside funds every year into a Turf Replacement Reserve. Any excess funds from a particular fiscal year are also rolled over into this Turf Replacement Reserve.
YOUR donations MAKE a DIFFERENCE!
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