Devonshire School Primary Yard Renewal Project
The Playground Committee is working hard with students, staff and Devonshire families to renew the primary yard.
Why the yard needs renewal
The impetus for the Primary Yard Renewal Project was the desire to bring the yard’s play structures up to current standards. The two existing structures were installed prior to the introduction of CSA Standards for playground equipment and have never met these standards. Further, one of the structures is made of pressure-treated wood and the associated health concerns have resulted in the City recommending that children be kept away from such structures and replacing them throughout the city. Installation of new equipment would address these problems and judicious design may also lend itself to the possibility of winter use.
The work involved in replacing the play structures also presents an opportunity to more generally improve the yard by adding green space and shade. These improvements could allow such benefits as:
- Increasing the comfort of students in hot weather by protecting them from the sun and lowering the ambient temperature of the yard
- Providing for outdoor learning through both connections to the curriculum and actual outdoor classroom spaces
- Fostering an appreciation of the natural environment among students
Renewal project goals
The primary goal of the Playground Committee’s Primary Yard Renewal Project is to develop an outdoor environment for the students in JK to Grade 2 that is:
- enjoyable, by providing stimulating areas for active play and quiet areas for passive play year-round; and
- safe, by ensuring that equipment meets CSA standards, and that the design generally enhances students’ level of comfort in terms of exposure to heat and sun.
The secondary goal is to develop a design that provides opportunities to educate by incorporating constructed and natural elements that have curriculum connections, allowing for children to be involved in caring for some of the green elements of the yard, and integrating outdoor classroom spaces into the design.
How you can help
Transforming a playground is a significant undertaking and many different kinds of support are needed. There are many ways you and your family can get involved to help us with this process. Do you have gardening, carpentry, or grant application writing skills? Or perhaps business or community contacts that may lead to donations or assistance? Do you know anyone that can provide discounted rates for landscaping materials and services? Please contact us!!!
Concept plan
Taking into consideration the responses from student, teacher and parent surveys, knowledge gained at Evergreen Learning Grounds workshops and the constraints of the yard, the Playground Committee has developed a draft concept plan.
| The Benefits | The Shortcomings |
Tell us what you think!
devonshireplayground@gmail.comFunds Raised to Date
Upcoming Events
Committee Meeting
The next playground committee meeting is scheduled for January 12. Please contact Marni Oliver, Playground Committee Chair, to join us.
Devonshire Art Auction
We are organizing an art auction to help raise money for the playground. We are looking for volunteers to help find artists to donate work, to find a location, to make posters, and to help out at the event. If you are interested in helping out in any way, contact Summer Baird for more information.
Ongoing Fundraisers
United Way Campaign
United Way Campaign: Direct your donation to playground renewal.
QSP
Thanks for helping us raise $3920 so far through our QSP magazine drive! You can renew subscriptions any time. Quote Devonshire's school code, 10753 when ordering.