Outdoor Spaces Development 2019-05-28 16:26:00

Newsletter - Outdoor Spaces Update 4

28th  May 2019

PUKAKI PLAY SPACE
Last week we met with a group of builders who are going to be installing the playground by Pūkaki. The trees had to be assessed to ensure they are healthy and safe to have a play area underneath. Beaver Tree Services completed this in the Term 1 holidays.
It is important to note that this first project is not for the sole use of the NE team. Many children prefer smaller enclosed spaces when they play, and all children in Year 1-4 will be able to play in this area.
P
ŪKAKI WORKING BEES
Carmel Wade is our main coordinator for this project and we will be working on site with a group of builders on 15th-16th June. We would love the help of approximately 10 people for these working bees on each of these days. You would be required to help dig the sandpit, plant trees, assist with some of the foundation work and help install the stones for the sandpit. If you are able to help, please fill in this google form with your expression of interest. 


JUNIOR PLAYGROUND UPDATE
The children across the school have all had the opportunity to create their concept plans for the Junior Playground. Unlike other institutions, it is important for us to have as much student involvement as possible as they are the kaitaiti of the school grounds.  As a school, we view this as a wonderful authentic learning opportunity for our students and want them to be a part of the process as much as possible. 


Their ideas have been collated and sent to Rachel Annan and Nik Kneale (landscape architects) to be incorporated into plans. They both have huge experience designing school outdoor spaces and will use their expertise with the designs. Nik designed the Treemendous area in 2018. We are hoping that these plans will be completed over the next 3 weeks. Once complete, we will be asking students, the school community and staff for feedback on the preferred plan. After this consultation, the decided plan will be priced up and we will be in the situation of starting the development, hopefully at the beginning of  Term 3.


We also met with Sam from Smile Dial (a charity specialising in supporting students with special needs). He gave us some guidance on creating spaces that cater for sensory, behavioural and physical needs. This will be of benefit to both Beckenham and Ferndale students. Sam’s recommendations will be included in the Design Plans. 


Last week the Ministry of Education was on site to review drainage issues around the admin building. This now sees them completing further work outside the admin block over the Term 2 school holidays addressing drainage and resealing the area. Luckily for us, this means that the money raised by our incredible PTA will not need to be spent resurfacing some of the outside areas and can be best used on improving spaces across the school.


We are currently in the process of applying for grants to resurface the Junior Playground. The replacement cost of this is between $60,000-$80,000 which is huge. We very much hope that our grants will be accepted. We are putting in grants for other areas across the school, including painting games on the asphalt and constructing small games areas such as gaga ball.


We have been given trees to be used for landscaping across the school from Trees for Canterbury and these are currently being cared for by the children until they need to be used in Term 3/4. We have also applied for a selection of fruit trees through the Resilience Network Canterbury.

Outdoor Spaces Committee

Posted in Rebuild.