WEYBURN - A Grade 5 class came out to the playground to encourage and cheer on a classmate to break the ribbon for a new inclusive swing that enable children in wheelchairs and friends to enjoy swinging together.
The special ribbon-breaking ceremony was held on Friday afternoon at Legacy Park Elementary School, with special guests on hand to see how the new swing can be used.
Caiden Hahn, a special needs student, was urged by his classmates to tear the ribbon, and then four of his classmates handed out specially-made thank you notes to sponsor representatives before joining him on the swing to demonstrate how it works.
Present for the demonstration and ribbon-breaking were principal Arlene Dobson, vice-principal Tyson O'Dell (representing the School Community Council), vice-principal Jacalyn Neilmeyer, teacher Tanice Abramson, EA Kim Neithercut, Dustin Bell of Souris Valley Industries, Brandon Rosengren of Access Children's Charities, and Jasmine Kravanya of the Weyburn Credit Union.
Souris Valley Industries paid half of the cost of the concrete pad for the swing; the Credit Union gave a grant of $10,000, and Access contributed just over $6,700 from their Children's Charities fund.
After Caiden and the classmates demonstrated how the swing works, the entire Grade 5 class posed with him and the swing.