Outdoor Learning Space Redevelopment

The Outdoor Learning Space Redevelopment Committee met on Friday 15th March and were happy to welcome some new faces to the group. The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss our plan of action for the final phase of the main playground redevelopment area in the coming months.

Taking guidance from the school's Landscape Master Plan that Andrew Laidlaw (Landscape architect at the Royal Botanic Garden's Children's Garden) completed 10 years ago, the committee has actioned the following major projects as well as some smaller improvements:

2009 - 2015

Consultation with Landscape Architect, Andrew Laidlaw, to discuss and design a whole school landscape masterplan.

Installation of key elements of the design including redevelopment of the entrance to the school on Cooper Street, installing the bamboo forest, redevelop Foundation play space, create an Indigenous garden at the front of the school, plant a fruit orchard at the front of the school, install kitchen garden areas outside the staffroom and Foundation area, mass planting of trees along Greenland and between the school and the hall.

2016

Outdoor learning space redevelopment group formed and concept plans drawn up.

Outdoor Learning Area Plan_Concepts.pdf

2017

Beautification of the Breen Street entrance with Wisteria plants
Installation of the new playground / sound garden next to the church

2018

Completion of school mural on the Breen Street wall

Signing an agreement to use the block of land next to the Presbytery, allowing children to use this area at lunchtime.
Redevelopment of the area behind Greenland, which was previously Father Simon's backyard. Concrete paths were installed to join the school to the grassland block. Turf, fruit trees, seating and relocation of the sand pit.
The sports shed was also relocated next to this area after renovation works were completed on the existing shed

The committee has been meeting with various contractors to redevelop the playground and surrounding space.
At the end of 2018, we appointed Package Landscapes to redevelop the main playground space.

2019

Consultation phase with Package Landscapes and playground manufacturers
Visits to various schools

Over the coming week, the teachers will discuss the attached drawings with the students and discuss what equipment the children would like to see in this space. We would also like to ask for your input while conducting this process by completing the following survey :

OUTDOOR LEARNING AND PLAYGROUND PARENT SURVEY.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2B8XHLY

The Outdoor Learning Space Redevelopment Committee will continue to keep you posted with further developments as we look forward to seeing the space transform this year.