Phase two of the Brunswick School outdoor learning area has been installed. (Facebook/Brunswick School)
Outdoor Learning

Phase two of outdoor learning area at Brunswick school in Melfort installed

Oct 21, 2020 | 10:06 AM

The second phase of the Brunswick School outdoor learning area is complete.

Phase one was installed about five years ago and included a gazebo.

Principal Rodney White told northeastNOW it was all part of the master plan to expand the front of the school into a space where classes could work outside.

“Phase two was to create a set of wooden benches and planter boxes and we still have a phase three coming up,” White said.

Benches and planter boxes were installed as part of phase two of the Brunswick outdoor learning area(Facebook/Brunswick School)

Phase three will see a hard surface added to the interior and some edging to tidy up the space.

There is also a memorial component for a student that passed away four years ago from cancer.

“We have created the raised flower boxes and, in the spring, we will plant flowers that attract lady bugs and it will be Kasia’s ladybug garden,” White said.

Kasia Jacobs was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of being in pre Kindergarten at Brunswick school and passed away that August.

Ben Nygard Construction in Melfort built the benches and flower boxes for the outdoor learning area. Ivan Allan with Eye Signs in Tisdale supported the project as well with the memorial sign.

“Ivan is a friend of the family of Kasia so he was pleased to be able to have a chance to honour her memory as well with that great sign,” White said.

Kasia’s Ladybug garden is part of the outdoor learning area at the Brunswick School in Melfort (Facebook/Brunswick School)

White said there is a booking system for classes in the school so they can alternate through which has worked out well over the years with the gazebo and will continue with the newest additions.

“Once we get the harder surface on the interior of the bench area there will be more space for classes to work and learn outside,” White said. “Any chance we can be outside is always great.”

The fundraising for the outdoor learning area began after the playground project was complete. Fundraising over a number of years went into getting to this point and White hopes that phase three will take place in spring of 2021.

The public is welcome to enjoy the space after school hours as well.

“It’s nice when the community can benefit from what we have been working on as a school,” he said.

angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser

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