North Shore school opens outdoor classroom
Posted September 26, 2015 8:50 am.
Last Updated September 27, 2015 8:15 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NORTH SHORE (NEWS 1130) – Some local kids have a brand new classroom thanks to a lot of hard work from a community on the North Shore.
Seymour Heights Elementary cut the ribbon on its new outdoor classroom this week, full of gardens, trees and learning spaces.
After potential funding fell through three years ago, the school and community came together to build it anyway, transforming an unused courtyard.
Principal Chanin Smyth says there are proven benefits to teaching outside. “We do have a really diverse population here at Seymour Heights and any kind of difficulties or challenge that a child may have when they come outside to learn, it just makes them feel more comfortable. [It] opens up their minds and gets [them] ready for learning.”
Smyth notes research has shown a lot of benefits. “The opportunity for them to be outside feeling calm, feeling regulated. We focus a lot on self-regulation here so to be able to come outside and really be able to focus and feel comfortable in their environment. It just helps the overall learning experience for the kids.”
Support came from local businesses, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, parents, teachers and even kids who all pitched in to get it built.
