The great outdoors already agrees with Hayes Park Public School students.
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Hayes Park principal Aloma Stewart said just moments after the school’s extensive new outdoor learning area opened this morning, students were out in force using the new facility.
She thanked all involved in the joint project with Yallah TAFE Horticulture Trades.
The new space references the rich history and geography of the local area and has involved over 90 TAFE apprentices and their teachers.
Ms Stewart said the learning space was a great new facility for students and staff and will give the parent community a space to join in on school activities.
“This will be the centre piece for events, shows what our school is about, and will enrich our student learning,” she said.
“With connected creative students as one of our strategic directions, this area will promote play for the students, connection to our local area, and connection to our current community with interesting places to learn, play and relax.
“The picnic benches, innovative learning spaces, and 'wave' barbeque facilities will also invite our parent community into our warm and welcoming school.”
The project was funded by the hard work of Year 6 students from the class of 2017, their parents, teachers and the generosity of the local community who donated many resources for the project.
Ms Stewart said the area was created with a donated surf boat from Gerringong Surf Club to link to the ocean.
“A jetty was constructed in reference to Kanhooka’s connection to Lake Illawarra and a mine shaft was created to link with the quarry based in Kanahooka,” she said.
“We also have a small farm area which directly links to the connection with the original Hayes family farm which is where our school stands today.”
The “great community project”, which was two-years in the making, also gained state recognition by winning the Southern Region - Contribution to the Community Excellence Award in October 2018.
“The really pleasing thing about the project was that it involved the whole community. We had the TAFE, parents, teachers and students play a significant part,” Ms Stewart said.
“[Teachers] Simon Ferrie and Shelley Fay deserve a lot of credit.”