Students at Hillcrest School have been enjoying greater opportunities while outdoors over the past couple of years.
“What we’ve done so far is try to reimagine our playground as an actual play space for kids that has a variety of different things to do on it,” said principal David Gillingham.
It started with the creation of a hill in their yard with the assistance of Turnbull Excavating. Students can use the hill for sledding in the winter and for outdoor play in the summer.
The hill was completed in the 2016-17 school year. The school has purchased sleds and snowboards, and it has received donations of equipment that can be used for students to slide down the hill.
“Mainly it’s a winter tool to have the kids have something to do during the winter,” said Gillingham.
Phase 2 is an outdoor classroom, which has been open since the start of the last school year. It started with some benches and planters, along with a couple of tables, and it will be built up.
“What we’re hoping to do is put a door from inside of the school directly out to it, which will make it a more accessible space as well, but the project is on the ‘to be completed’ list,” said Gillingham.
The third phase is the zip line, which has just been installed with the help of the Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation, the Community Initiatives Fund and B&S Construction.
“We have a two-line zip line set up at the school for the start of this year. That’s an exciting new piece of equipment that’s pretty popular with our kids, and from what I hear, popular with kids across the community that are coming down to our playground to use it,” said Gillingham.
The school was looking for something different and exciting for the students. Often a school can add a piece of playground equipment that the children will use for a short period of time, and then the kids will move to something else.
“We figured that this is something that will hold their attention longer, and it’s so far so good,” said Gillingham.
There are lineups to use the zip line at recess, and there are kids who come from elsewhere in the community to use it outside of school hours.
Gillingham suggested benches and a table could be added near the zip line for parents to sit at while the children are playing.
“We want to make a community playground, and not just a school playground,” said Gillingham.
It’s safe for children to use the zip line outside of school hours, but there is a play at your own risk element to it.
He credited Sara Pippus and the school community council (SCC) for being instrumental in moving the playground projects forward. Pippus spearheaded it from the outset, but after her position was reduced to half-time, the responsibility has been spread among staff and the SCC.
This is a work in progress, and the school is always looking to enhance its outdoor facilities for its students. A leadership group has been formed among grades 7 and 8, and they will have input on the next phase of the project.
