Outdoor learning centres should be arriving within a couple of weeks at four New Westminster schools.
Qayqayt Elementary, Lord Kelvin Elementary, Queen Elizabeth Elementary and Glenbrook Middle School will be getting the new permanent structures thanks to extra federal funding designed to help schools deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The New Westminster school district received $2.5 million from the federal government and earmarked $365,000 of that for the new outdoor learning spaces.
The four schools were selected after the district solicited feedback about which would be interested in such structures and then considered which could benefit most from them – taking into account factors such as the school population, site suitability and the proximity (or lack thereof) to an existing outdoor learning space, such as a pavilion at a city park.
Bettina Ketcham, the school district’s secretary-treasurer, told trustees at their Nov. 17 operations committee meeting that site preparation work is currently underway at the four sites.
The outdoor learning spaces, which will be permanent steel-based structures, have been ordered and are expected to arrive within the next couple of weeks.
“Given that the site prep is being done as we speak, as soon as those structures arrive they’ll be able to be placed immediately and enjoyed by students and staff,” she said.
The school district has also purchased some outdoor furniture, including benches and tables, so students can have classes outside.
