HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-09-05, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013.New school features ‘dramatic play centres’
Prepared for school
From left, Patrick LeRoux, Leis Skelding, Sam Young and Ethan Sangster couldn’t wait to find
the best place to sit outside of their classroom as they toured the new Maitland River
Elementary School in Wingham during an open house the school hosted on Wednesday, Aug.
28. (Denny Scott photo)
Continued from page 12
lighting in each room, allowing the
light level to stay the same
while using as much sunlight as
possible.”
Skylights in the primary spaces of
the school, such as the gymnasium
and hallways, also help to provide
natural light.
The school also utilizes
“greywater”, or non-potable water
from sources like rainwater to flush
their toilet and provide other non-
drinking options.
The school yard includes a great
deal of green space and has been
planned to have shade once the trees
have some time to grow.
Also outside the school features
an outdoor classroom with a
pavilion and amphitheatre crafted
from limestone. The pavilion was
built not only to provide shade but
also to provide a mounting for a
large array of solar panels.
The school also features
soundfield systems to help teachers
capture and hold the attention of all
students including those with
hearing impairments, Waldorf
Dramatic Play Centres in the
Kindergarten rooms which fit with
new Kindergarten curriculum
suggestions and special sinks in the
room which help demonstrate water
tables, however some of the biggest
differences from other schools may
not be noticeable at all.
“The school has a basement under
the Kindergarten area which I think
is one of the coolest changes,”
McDowell said. “It was fiscally
responsible because we didn’trequire any fill to level out theground.
One of the other features
McDowell thought was great is
special glass that was used for
higher windows.
While the windows closer to the
ground can be closed to limit
light, there are windows higher in
the walls in classrooms which
are built with special glass
that prevents glare but allows
sunlight to continue entering the
room.
The building also features a
sensory room for students to relax
and distance themselves from
classroom situations if they need to.
This is particularly useful for
students in situations where they can
become overwhelmed in the
classroom, such as students with
Autism McDowell says.
The halls in the school can also be
closed off to keep the classrooms
separate from the entryway, library,
gymnasium and other more generic
rooms to allow for it to be used as a
community hub even during the
school day.
Marie McDade, the new vice-
principal at the school who came
from St. Columban School and,
before that, worked at St. Anne’s
Catholic Secondary School, said
some of the changes in theKindergarten wing are also veryexciting.
The rooms have been designed,
with the teachers’ input, to keep
students working at centres and
working with each other instead of
constantly following directions of a
teacher.
She also pointed out all the
billboards are empty.
“You used to walk into a
classroom that was decorated by the
teacher and, while that was great, it
wasn’t part of this new movement
that sees the input of students as
paramount,” she said. “Now the
billboards are empty and they will
be filled with the students work as
they work together with their
teachers.”
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New school, new vice-principal
Marie McDade, the new vice-principal of Maitland River Elementary School which recently
opened its doors for the first time, is very excited about the features the new school offers
including the Waldorf Dramatic Play Centres, which fit in with new thoughts on early childhood
education and Kindergarten curriculums. (Denny Scott photo)
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