Staff at a Headingley-area preschool were shocked Friday morning after discovering their fence damaged and playground structure missing. Playground Gone Overnight Guiding Minds Montessori, located at 4945 Portage Ave., says thieves broke through the fence around 5 a.m. before stealing a wooden play structure from the playground. "This wasn't just theft from a school. It was theft from children and from a community that cares deeply about them," said staff at Guiding Minds Montessori in a post on social media. "For our students, this space was more than just a playground. It was a place for imagination, movement, learning, laughter, and friendship. Seeing it suddenly gone has been incredibly difficult for our staff, families, and children." The school says the play structure was a special part of the children's day-to-day lives, a place where they played, learned, built confidence, used their imaginations, and got to be kids. "Seeing it suddenly gone has been incredibly difficult for our staff, families, and children," said Guiding Minds Montessori Community Rallies to Rebuild While staff say the theft has been heartbreaking for both the school and surrounding community, they add their spirit is not broken. "Guiding Minds Montessori has always been a place rooted in care, connection, and community," said staff. "We believe in teaching children resilience, kindness, and compassion, and we are choosing to move forward by rebuilding a space our children deserve." In response to this theft, members of the school's parent community have organized a GoFundMe to help raise funds toward replacing the structure and restoring the playground for the children as quickly as possible. The hope is to have the structure installed as soon as possible to allow the children the opportunity to continue to enjoy their outdoor space this summer. "Every contribution, big or small, helps bring us one step closer to rebuilding this important part of our school community," said staff.