New Greenspace Fosters Student Gathering at Altona's Ecole West Park School

Students at Ecole West Park School in Altona are enjoying some new greenspace this fall. Principal Allan Jones says an outdoor classroom has been built at the northwest corner of the school, along with some benches surrounded by trees and shrubs, to help students gather and visit during recess breaks. He explains it's another gathering place for students who have different interests.

"We have lots of students who are very active and want to have that play so we have climbing structures (and) soccer fields, but we also have students who like to just visit and so this is a place where they can visit with a friend or sit and talk."

A focal point of the greenspace is a giant, red Adirondack chair built by Lloyd Giesbrecht at Blue Sky Opportunities. Jones says the non-profit group will build a few more benches to go around some trees as well.

He explains how this project originated.

As for who will be taking care of and maintaining this new greenspace, Jones says that responsibility will fall on the students through a group or club called The Grounds Crew.

"We had our first meeting to see how much interest (there was) and we had fifteen students showed up, so that's great. We're going to do some learning about plants and also learning about just maintaining that space and some of the other spaces around the school."

He adds the students are really enjoying the new spot, noting it's being used every recess by different people.

"Some are starting to gravitate to that area as kind of their place to hang out but all of the students are definitely going there and enjoying it."

Jones says the project was made possible through several fund raisers and a large grant from Border Land School Division.