GLENVILLE, IA - Area schools only have a few weeks of class left.  These last days of school will be especially fun for kids at one Southern Minnesota elementary school. 

Parent Susie Miller believes Glenville-Emmons Elementary School is more of a family than a school.  Early Saturday morning, several members of that family gathered to tear down and rebuild their playground.

Student Brianne Landmark told us the old playground was in bad shape.  "People vandalized it, people wrote on it.  They rode skateboards on it and cracked the slides."

The parents behind the project say much of the old playground equipment simply wasn't safe.

"Some of the slides had holes in it.  Equipment had been removed already because of safety issues," said Miller.

The school needed new equipment, but didn't have the money.

Miller said, "I started asking some questions, and one thing led to another and we started up the PTC again."

As Parent-Teacher Committee President, Susie Miller didn't waste any time setting high goals for the newly formed group.

"When we started this project in the fall, I said, these kids are going to have a new playground before they get out of school," she said.

Miller explained raising the money took help from the whole community.  Parents, kids, and local businesses pitched in to collect more than $13,000.

"It's been a lot of work.  A lot of work.  But it's been so worth it," said Miller.

The hard work continued Saturday.  Bright and early.

Landmark said, "we're proud of them, cause they usually don't get up this early."

For the parents, losing a few hours of sleep is a small price to pay for the safety of their kids.

"We can't wait until Monday when the kids come back to school and we get to see the expression on their face.  They're just so excited about it!" Miller said.

The PTC is honoring everyone who helped make the new playground a reality during a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday morning at 8:30.

If you would like information on playground safety, click here.