08 Oct 2011
Wallabadah Public School children are now using a wonderful playground facility thanks to joint partnerships between the Department of Education, the school and BHP Billiton.
Last month a rubberised surface area was laid under the Covered Outdoor Learning area covering an area of 350 square metres at a cost totalling $32,000.
The importance of an attractive playground runs parallel to the needs of books and teaching resources in educating children. It works in the same way as a child would use pencils to draw, or a calculator to assist with mathematics. Playgrounds are used to initiate play and as a basis for games. School playgrounds should be seen as outdoor classrooms for schools, and can be as important as the indoor classroom environment. Our new area has space for handball squares, basketball court and floor games such as hopscotch and leapfrog. There is also a large clockface which will be wonderful resource for teaching time.
Ms Ruythe Dufty School Education Director New England South and Ms Tania McShane representing BHP Billiton officially opened the area on Monday.
The children are very excited to have such a magnificent resource at Wallabadah. Thank you to everyone involved.