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| Chalkhill School prepares to celebrate the opening of the new park |
The plans to build a new park close to the school presented a great opportunity for work across the curriculum. More than three years ago children were involved in submitting possible plans for the park with ideas for the kind of equipment that should be installed. They had to think about provision for all ages and safety issues.
The School Council got involved when plans for the park were delayed. They wrote lettes to local Brent councillors, e-mailed them and spoke to them face to face to urge action to complete the park, emphasising how important it was for children on the Chalkhill Estate to have somewhere safe to play and the importance of exercise and play in adopting a healthy lifestyle.
When completion neared they were again involved in putting forward ideas for the opening ceremony and pupil delegates went to one meeting where activities, within budget constraints, were planned. In School Council they came up with the idea of a Junior Friends of Chalkhill Park to litter pick and take care of the equipment. Within th school there was a competition to make posters to urge the public to look after the park, pick up litter and clear up after dogs. The best of these were placed on the park notice boards.
For the opening ceremony the children and staff worked with Mahogany Arts to create carnival costumes, the staff steelband rehearsed, a pupil samba band was formed, Bollywood dances created and the school choir chose pieces to sing on the day.
Meanwhile Year 3 pupils collaborated with the Brent and Kilburn Times to produce a page of the newspaper about the park.
The pictures below give some idea of the results of all this work.
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