I.F. Cox receives grant for outdoor learning area

By Carlie Connolly
On the Jan. 22 parent council meeting at I.F Cox School in Redcliff, a $65,000 government grant was presented to improve the school’s outdoor learning space.
The plan to redesign the outdoor space began a few years ago to encourage the kids to play outside and be more active not only during the day, phys-ed time and recess, but also after hours.
The program of the redesign is called Get Outside, and they have been looking for funding for the past couple of years. Principal of I.F Cox, Melissa Gogolinski said that the grant will help particularly in making pathways through the area that will be accessible for all children and their families, and those in particular being families with strollers and those in wheelchairs. She also hopes to build a covered gazebo so that when bad weather occurs, children and their families can still get outside.
Shelley Beck, who represents Cypress Hills- Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes along with Medicine Hat’s MLA, Blake Pedersen were also in attendance to present the Community Facility Enhancement Grant cheque.
“It’s a great concept. It’s good to see what you encourage at school happens at home and it grows from there,” Beck said.
“It’s obviously a pleasure on both of our behalf to present a cheque to help,” said Pedersen, recalling the joys he and others had growing up playing outside.
LMT donated a rock seating area and berm a little while back for the children to enjoy, and the school is working on more funding for additional components.
Future plans depending on funding include a musical area, bird garden, growing garden structures and a labyrinth area.
“We are finding a lot of children are spending more time indoors and we want them outside and active,” said Gogolinski.