Lunch hour just got a little more exciting for the students at Nakoda Elementary School in Morley, as the school’s third playground was unveiled May 9.
The state-of-the-art structure features slides, monkey bars and a glider — the favourite for 10-year-old Shakira Lefthand.
“We all like the new playground,” said the Grade 5 student. “We were really excited that it’s opened now.”
The playground trio is part of an initiative that the Stoney Education Authority has put in place to encourage exercise and development, and to decrease incidences of bullying.
The three play areas are set up to accommodate the different stages of development for different age groups at the school said Gordon Breen, superintendent of schools with Stoney Education Authority. One playground was constructed with preschool through to Grade 1, another for Grades 2 and 3, and the newest one for Grades 4 and 5.
With the triad of play areas, Breen said all of the kids can have access to a playground at all times.
“The thought is that having three playgrounds meets the exercise and social needs of our students,” said Breen. “We think for an elementary school to not have multiple playgrounds is developmentally limiting.”
Developmental benefits aside, Breen said the positive effect of a playground carries on into the classroom.
“The students return to class happy, fulfilled and tired,” he said. “This makes them more receptive to learning.”
The playgrounds, like the elementary school’s track and baseball diamond, are open to the community outside of school hours.
