With summer vacation in full swing, school is the last thing on students’ minds, however, École Desrochers and Jasper Elementary School have a new treat which might get kids excited about coming back in September.
After years of planning, the two schools unveiled the first phase of a playground project, June 28. The new structure includes monkey bars and a few other climbing and hanging options.
Planning for the three-phase project started in 2012 when the schools decided to share the space between their two buildings. The first phase cost just over $24,000 and was paid for by École Desrochers.
According to Hélène Gendron, the school’s principal, it already had some money put away for a new structure before the two schools decided to collaborate on the project.
“The intent for this structure was to make it match the current playground,” said Gendron. “It is important to think of this structure as a part of the whole playground because it doesn’t just belong to one school or the other.
“It’s ours and it’s theirs—we don’t have a French side and an English side. It’s for all students.”
The final two phases for the playground are expected to cost more than $123,000. In 2014, parents from both École Desrochers and Jasper Elementary School started fundraising to cover the expenses.
“Right now we have a vision to bring more structures to the other end of the playground—toward Geikie Street,” said outgoing JES principal Raymond Blanchette-Dubé. “Since the old high school was torn down we don’t have anything in that area for the kids to play on.
“Basically we want to have a flow of activities from one end of the school yard to the other end.”
While the intent for phase one was to match the new playground with other equipment that is already there, both Gendron and Blanchette-Dubé said they are eyeing something different for the remaining two phases, which could include more natural elements such as sand, water, wood and plants.
It’s not clear when the final two phases will be completed and it will depend on funding.
In February, parents from both schools started writing grant applications to fund the final phases.
“In the fall we are going to have a bigger group of people to share the workload and share the fundraising responsibilities,” Gendron said. “This is a big collaboration between both schools.”
Once the playground is completed a plaque will be installed to thank all of the people who donated to the playground.
Kayla Byrne
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