Students and faculty alike are excited about the new playground equipment at Clanton Elementary School.

The school’s parent-teacher organization provided a new eight-seat swing set to the school this past summer.

The set was assembled by several PTO parents prior to the beginning of school.

Clanton Elementary second grader Mia Batchelor said she couldn’t wait to try them out.

“Now we don’t have to wait so long for our turn,” she said, adding that the swings are her favorite of all the activities on the playground because she felt “like I was flying.”

Physical education teacher Kandice Shrader noted that the special needs students find the swings calming and therapeutic.

“A lot of them do the swinging motion to be a calming motion,” she explained. “It’s great to have the extra swings, because previously the kids were not getting as much swinging time as they like.”

Proceeds from PTO fundraisers, such as the upcoming fall festival, made the donation possible. Special thanks goes to Andy Kennedy, Doug Frederick, Bill McKinnon, Stanley Batchelor and Mark Nolan for helping to assemble the swing set.

The equipment is just one of several projects by the PTO to improve the environment of the school.

Other recent projects are the popular outdoor science area and the addition of risers and a portable sound system in the auditorium.

The PTO was also instrumental in the paving of a new overflow driveway to ease the congestion on Temple Road and to provide a safer environment for pedestrians — especially the younger ones.

The school’s faculty, staff and PTO welcome everyone to attend the annual fall festival Oct. 19 at Clanton City Park from 4 until 7:30 p.m. Admission for armbands is $10 for ages 2 and up.