In a Monday afternoon assembly on the first day back after spring break, Philomath Elementary Principal Eric Beasley had a surprise for students after they filed into the school’s gymnasium.
And when it was unveiled, the reaction was deafening with cheers that in the moment might’ve been heard by passers-by on South 16th or Applegate. The school’s 370 students in grades 2-5 had a new traverse climbing wall.
“I just think that kids maybe don’t do as much — climbing trees and things like that — as they used to,” Beasley said after leading students through the high-energy assembly. “One thing we’ve noticed is that kids can build up their strength and it’s just fun. It’s fun to climb.”…