CHANGE IN PLANS SAVINGS FOR PLAYGROUND MAKEOVER STOLEN.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

NEWHALL - For two years, the children at the Rise and Shine Preschool behind the Valley Community Church dropped pennies, nickels and dimes into a 10-gallon Sparkletts bottle, hoping to save up for a new playground.

Grandparents slipped in bills during Christmas shows. Parents chipped in a few bucks on Fridays.

But on Monday morning, the bottle - so heavy it could barely be lifted because of its contents, estimated at $1,500 - was gone. The children's efforts ended with only shattered window glass and an indentation on the carpet where the bottle had sat in school director Michelle DuPrey's office.

``We had started shopping around for equipment,'' DuPrey said. ``We already bought new borders for the sandbox. It amazes me that someone would steal from children.''

The theft left parents and teachers at Rise and Shine gloomy.

``There were some bills in there that the parents dropped in, so they were really bummed,'' DuPrey said `` ``We've been here since 1985. We were planning to remodel our playground. We were doing a Pennies for a Playground program.''

Sheriff's deputies in the Santa Clarita Valley are looking for someone who left muddy footprints around the property either late Sunday or early Monday, entered through the office window and then managed to lug the heavy bottle away. Nothing else was taken, DuPrey said.

``We think it's juvenile-related,'' said Santa Clarita Deputy Mike Lorenzi. As for the heavy bottle's being carried from its spot, Lorenzi said detectives are investigating.

``That's what's so strange,'' he said. ``I did a search of the property to see if something from the bottle had fallen.''

There were signs the intruder had tried to enter through a classroom, but the double-pane window did not break. But the office window was shattered, and only an inch of glass around its parameters was still intact.

``It's kind of scary,'' said kindergarten teacher Jeanie Dodge, whose 5- year-old son attends the school. ``The people who opened this morning didn't want to go in because they were thinking someone might still be there.

``It's kind of of sad. It was more than just pennies. We had some parents dropping in whatever they could. I actually attended a conference this weekend (on) how to put this all together. We were a day too late.''

School personnel had been working with the church and the U.S. Peace Corps through a program that would match funds children and their families raised for the playground.

Plans for the playground, just off Wiley Canyon Road, included relocating the sandbox to leave more space for tricycle riding, DuPrey said.

Some of the older plastic jungle-gym pieces would have been replaced.

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Michelle DuPrey, director of the Rise and Shine Preschool, looks over the playground where kids hoped for a makeover.

(2 -- color) Office aide Angie Whiting shovels window fragments after a preschool burglary.

David Crane/Staff Photographer