The much-anticipated new Primary School Nature Playground has been unveiled at Peter Moyes Anglican Community School.
The new play area features a pirate ship, custom slide, elevated huts, nest swing, rope climbing nets, natural climbing rock wall, and many more features for the students to explore and play in.
Bringing the play-based pedagogy from the Early Years through to the Year 1 – Year 6 play area has been a key focus for Associate Principal, Primary School, Mr Roderick Wood.
“Students in our Pre-Kindy to Pre-Primary area have enjoyed a wonderful playground for the past 5 years and deserve an equally stimulating environment once they move through to Year 1 and beyond. Nature playgrounds such as these provide students with physical skills, problem solving, co-operation and prompts their imagination and creativity, which ultimately supports our inquiry and play-based learning philosophy at PMACS,” said Mr Wood.
With funding from the Parents & Friends’ Association, plans for the extensive Nature Playground commenced with Stage 1 in 2019, completing the project with Stage 3 in Term 2, 2021.
Linking the Nature Playground with Aboriginal culture was an important part of the design process. The playground features a native Bush Tucker garden and a bench featuring Aboriginal art on tiles made by Primary School students.
Students and staff are establishing the Bush Tucker garden in the final week of Term 2. Students will learn about local Aboriginal culture, the Noongar seasonal calendar and the traditional uses of native plants.
After waiting patiently for the playground to be completed, the students are now thoroughly enjoying their new play space.