Creative Play Update 18th
November 2013
Hi everyone,
I would like to update everyone on
the BPPS Creative Play Project. This is an important proposal as it affects the
school grounds as well as investment from the P&C.
In my role as President, I would
like to ensure that the proposal is communicated in full. Kevin Gallagher (as Acting School
Principal) can discuss the needs of the school in context. At P&C meetings, the school
community are given the opportunity to ask questions, communicate their point
of view and vote on this proposal.
The creative play project will be
discussed as an agenda point at the P&C meeting tonight, 18th
November (7pm school hall). Any
further discussion and a possible motion for funding will be deferred until the
meeting on 16th December. Only paid members of the P&C have
voting rights (members need to join the P&C at tonight’s meeting to be
eligible to vote at the December meeting).
I would like to thank both Beverley
Witherington and Sabine Simmonds for their dedication and work on this project.
They have put in many hours, looking at ways to enhance the play areas in
the school, and also to utilise these areas for education and
learning for ALL age groups.
They have been drawing on Beverley's
training and skills as a neuroscientist and her access to the latest research
behind play concepts. Current research suggests creative play is highly
correlated with socio-emotional development, problem solving abilities,
sensori-motor development and visuospatial awareness. Furthermore
creativity is viewed as a predictor of innovation & invention, and later
academic success.
The Creative Play proposal being put
to the P&C is to have 3 new play areas –
a) Water Play
area that can be used area for science and mathematical concepts
b) Spinning
(Vestibular) play piece can be used for cognitive and sensorimotor
development.
c) And a themed
play area that can be used in literacy and drama
In the first instance, Beverley and
Sabine would like to propose the following 2
items, for the P&C to consider for funding and be to be installed on the
school grounds –
1) Understanding the dynamics of
water
We are proposing that the sandy
sloped area between the current play area & classroom is landscaped and
developed into a water play area. This would include a water pump, trough
and wheel, quoted at $13,850 + GST -
We plan to develop (with UTS
expertise see below), a water storage tank to use as a source, and also to
explore environment sustainability, scientific and mathematical
constructs.
2) Physical, social & brain
development through vestibular movement
Basically this means a large
spinning device that several kids can play on! It would be sited adjacent
to the tree near the wetlands area. Scientific research into brain
development shows that spinning (vestibular movement) stimulates connectivity
of neural pathways in different brain regions, thus facilitating children’s
brain development, including those with development delays and learning
differences.
We have sourced a 'Dutch
Disk' (2.5m diameter) that several children can stand on, quoted at $20,504 + GST. We have chosen the larger
structure for multiple children thereby facilitating communication,
collaboration & negotiation through group play and interaction.
3. Themed Play
Beverley and Sabine along with Kevin Gallagher and Jenny Beynon, met
with two senior lecturers & architects from the School Interior Spatial
Design & Architecture from the University of Technology Sydney. The
meeting generated a whole host of exciting ideas. These included UTS
developing a 2014 Semester 1 design project for their students to generate
design ideas for our creative play space (at the western corner of the school
adjacent to the wetlands area). The brief to the students will be
finalised at the end of this year. Aspects of the design brief will
include an aboriginal theme (tying into the rock carvings on site), educational
as well as creative play value, and innovative learning and exploration
for all students.
The design project will be part of their assessable work for next year.
Once designs are complete, we anticipate involving the students and
broader school community in viewing & voting on the designs, having an
exhibition of their design ideas at the school, inviting local press interest
as well as collaboration with local indigenous artists on the project.
At the moment we don't have firm design or costings as we are in the
early stages. Updates on this will be provided at the P&C meetings.
If you have any ideas or could contribute your thinking in any way
whatsoever, please have a chat with Sabine or Beverley. Contact
details are:
Sabine Mb 0421 216971, email sabine.simmonds@optusnet.com.au
Beverley
Mb 0400 999 313, email beverleywitherington@gmail.com
Or
please forward your comments to:
Many
thanks everyone, your input is important and I look forward to seeing you at
the P&C meetings.
Regards
Mandy
Sigaloff
P&C
President
