After the storm, a swift cleanup restores Bach playground—even as “Todd the Turtle” and huge maple tree are lost

On the Bach Elementary playground, where a beloved turtle-shaped play structure once stood, there is now an empty space and a growing tribute.

In the wake of Tuesday night’s storm, confirmed by the National Weather Service as an EF-1 tornado, an old maple tree that had stood for more than a century came crashing down, taking with it “Todd the Turtle,” a fixture of the school community for over two decades.

For many students, the loss feels personal.

“It’s been a tough loss for some of our scholars and staff,” said Principal Matthew Jones. “One of our second graders shared with me, ‘Dr. Jones, I am so sad about the unfortunate demise of our Turtle,’ and wondered what we’ll do next. That really captures the feeling in the building.”

Photos taken before the storm show children climbing on Todd’s shell as families gathered nearby during school events. Alongside him stood the towering maple tree.

In the days since the storm, students and staff have transformed the site into a place of remembrance. A small memorial has appeared, filled with notes, drawings, and tokens left in honor of both Todd and the historic tree.

“The memorial that’s been created is a thoughtful and meaningful tribute,” Jones said. “Todd was part of the Bach community for over 20 years, and the tree itself has been a fixture for more than a century.”

But alongside the loss is a story of swift recovery across the district.

Across AAPS, downed trees have been cleared and campuses made safe in the days following the storm. At Bach, crews worked quickly to restore the playground, which has since reopened—now covered in fresh wood chips, even as some equipment, including Todd, awaits replacement.

“We had a quick response to the damage on school properties across the district and can  assure the community no school suffered any structural damage,” said Liz Margolis, the district’s Executive Director of Student & School Safety.  “And there was a quick turnaround of the Bach playground, which had the most damage.”

What comes next? 

“We plan to take our time and gather input from scholars, staff, and our Bach families to ensure any replacement is just as meaningful,” Jones said.

And even without him on the playground, that spirit, as Principal Jones puts it, “will certainly live on here at Bach.”