THUNDER BAY – There was plenty of excitement Wednesday at St. Thomas Aquinas School.
As the late summer sun beamed down on the Thunder Bay elementary school, kindergarten students raced through the doors for their first look at their new outdoor play area, an $80,000 renovation project that saw artificial turf laid down and a new gazebo built to help enhance the learning process.
Principal Frank Lacaria said it’s a great way to open the new school year at the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board facility.
“We’ve been trying for years to improve our outdoor play space, especially for our kindergarten program. It is play-based and very much involves nature and bringing nature into the classroom,” he said.
“Instead of trying to bring twigs and leaves and such into the class, we wanted the kids to come outside and we want them to get close with nature and do their exploratory activities outside and get that inquiry-based process and learning really to the forefront.”
The reaction has been great from both students and staff, Lacaria said.
“Really, every teacher from Grade 1 to Grade 6 is in love with it,” he said.
The process began last October, with construction beginning in late June.
“It really took a lot of deliberations,” Lacaria said.
Work was also done on a school kitchen, and a long-jump pit has been added to the school field.
Classes resumed on Wednesday.
