AN indoor playground is in the works for Suwilaawks Community School after a request for money was approved late last year.
A total of $17,500 will be forwarded to the school to be used towards the project, which falls in line with the increasing attention Suwilaawks' has paid this year to student daily physical fitness.
“We have already incorporated a daily physical activity program in which all students gather in the gym to celebrate healthy living and social-emotional health,” states the project's application, which was submitted at the end of October last year. “This project will cement Suwilaawks' commitment to healthy living and provide opportunities for all members of our community.”
The school applied for the money through the Schools Community Connections Program, a partnership between the BC Schools Trustees Association and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. The BC Ministry of Education provided the money.
This money will be combined with $12,500 raised through the school's parent advisory council, and other contributions and sources to complete the $30,000 project.
The project, is described as “an exciting collaboration supporting family life, enhancing early learning opportunities and healthy living initiatives. We fully expect this planned indoor playground to become the hub of our community school.”
The school hosts does host evening programs for adults wishing to upgrade their education, but hasn't had an adequate space to keep their children occupied.
“The weather in Terrace is unpredictable from October to April and we feel it is important to have an area for children to be supervised and engaged in active health promoting activities,” read the application.
The new playground area would be an upgrade to the gymnasium stage and mezzanine space in the school.
In its application, the school received letters of support from Coast Mountains School District 82, Kermode Friendship Society, Kalum Community Schools Society, Suwilaawks' Community School PAC, and the City of Terrace.