WESTLOCK – Students and staff at Westlock Elementary School (WES) will soon be using a new outdoor classroom when school resumes today, Wednesday, Aug. 30.
The project, providing an outdoor space for a classrooms, activities and mental health benefits, features a new gazebo built and installed this summer, and new landscaping along with several new picnic tables that are expected to be installed next spring.
“We’ve had some requests for what type of picnic tables (to purchase) so we’re still in the process of trying to meet those requests with the proper dollar figure,” said Friends of Westlock Elementary School Society president Tori Message. “Hopefully by spring, we’ll have something in place.”
The society hopes to have about four picnic tables under the gazebo so they can “fit at least 24 kids” which is expected to be an average classroom size.
“That way our classes can go outside and get fresh air and use it as an outdoor classroom,” she said, noting the project has been in the works for the past two years and costs just under $30,000.
Most of the money was raised via the society and school’s parent council fundraising efforts, which included several events and donations from community groups over the past two years and a $5,000 grant from Fortis Alberta.
“When I submitted the application, they agreed that we could do this so we gave a value of $5,000 towards this project,” said Fortis Alberta field operations supervisor for Westlock, Athabasca, Lac La Biche and Conklin Mitchell Tinant. “(As part of the grant) we supply a volunteer day for us to help finish the gazebo as well.”
The volunteer day Aug. 22, included a barbecue at the school with several employees and volunteers on hand to help out.
“There’s many different types of community grants that Fortis gives out in all communities and each service (group) can apply for them,” explained Tinant. “We try and help out as many communities as we can throughout the year.”
Message said the parent-led project also had support from the school.
“Staff was also very interested and keen on having an outdoor space with shade because our school really lacks that, or to be able to go outside and have a space to work with the kids.”
The gazebo will also be available for families to use after school or during school functions as well as by community groups such as minor ball and minor soccer who use the grounds.
In addition to the gazebo, landscaping and picnic tables, fundraising efforts also allowed the society to purchase two new swing sets for the playground area — one at the north end of the school for lower elementary students and one at the south end.
“One swing set at the south end of the school will actually have accessible swings which will be the first in the town so that’ll be very helpful for some community members,” said Message.
