Students at William Grayson School will soon have a new classroom in which to learn about the natural world and much of what nature has to offer.
An outdoor classroom is being built on the west side of the building, located on Caribou Street West. Cornell Design and Landscaping began digging the shallow hole on Sept. 4, with the intention of installing two circular rock benches on which students can sit. School officials hope the classroom is completed either this weekend or early next week.
“We are looking forward to it and we’re excited to get using it,” said vice-principal Robin Heshka.
School administration wants students to experience and explore the outdoors more often, she explained. Being able to use nature to teach students can be the best learning tool. For example, in science class students could learn about the seasons, or rocks and minerals.
“To be able to go outside and have hands-on experiences and hands-on exploring, you can’t get better than that,” Heshka said.
“We also want it for simple things. Right now the weather is beautiful. Who wants to be stuck inside a classroom all day when you can be learning outside? (We want to) take advantage of the weather we do have.”
With a laugh, Heshka said she hoped a berry bush could be planted in the outdoor classroom. This would allow every grade to participate in caring for it while also enabling students to engage in some learning while tying in curriculum outcomes. For example, kindergarten students could pick the berries and sort them, while Grade 1s could count them, and with each grade up to Grade 8 helping in some way.
The end result could then be a pie is baked using the picked berries.
“It’s a win-win,” she added.
The outdoor classroom is being shaped in a circle so the school can tie in its Circle of Courage program, which is about youth development and ensuring emotionally healthy youths have a sense of belonging, mastery, independence and generosity.
The teacher would also be able to join the students in a “circle family” formation.
The school and its school community council have been raising funds for the outdoor classroom for more than seven years, Heshka said. There have been many fundraising activities, such as hot lunches and movie nights. She was unsure how much the project cost — Heshka has been at the school for two years — but pointed out the Prairie South School Division matched all the money the school raised.
William Grayson School is holding an open house and free family barbecue on Thursday, Sept. 12 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Students and families will meet in the gym for supper, before taking tours of the classrooms and meeting the teachers.
“It’s always a nice night,” Heshka added, “especially for new families.”
