Crystal Brook Kindergarten Footpath Project
- Media Releases
Port Pirie Regional Council has committed hundreds of thousands of dollars to projects around the region – but it is a $10,000 project that has captured the hearts of the community and changed the lives of some of our region’s youngest and oldest residents.
Council has collaborated with the Crystal Brook Kindergarten on the Footpath Project: Bringing Our Learners Together.
Crystal Brook Kindergarten has forged a strong connection with the Roseview aged care residents and the children visit every fortnight to chat, play games and learn with their friends. Now, the Roseview residents want to return the favour and visit the kindergarten..
Five year old Emily Noonan wrote a letter to Port Pirie Regional Council on behalf of all of the children and educators at Crystal Brook Kindergarten to ask for a new footpath. Council pledged $10,000 to the project and graduate engineer Peter Lock has made several visits to the kindergarten to work with the children on scoping the project.
The children have been involved in a thorough learning experience that has included creating meeting and business plans, using toy cars and paper to plot the angles and measurements needed for car parking spaces and even borrowing wheelchairs to simulate how the Roseview residents may experience the journey between the hospital and kindergarten.
Last week, 13 children from Crystal Brook Kindergarten, along with their educators, did something that would intimidate many adults – presenting their story to Council’s Strategic Workshop in front of the Mayor, Elected Members and Council management.
Each child stood and addressed the Chamber to speak about the project and why it was so important to the community, developing vital confidence and public speaking skills in the process.
Mayor Leon Stephens praised the Crystal Brook Kindergarten educators for their work with the local four and five year olds and the children for their enthusiasm.
“It gives you great hope if the next generation is this proactive at such a young age,” he said.
The footpath is set to be completed before the end of the year.
TOP...Roseview resident Gordon Greig, front, with the children and staff of Crystal Brook Kindergarten, Mayor Leon Stephens Elected Members, Council's Executive Management Team and Graduate Engineer Peter Lock.
BOTTOM...Crystal Brook Kindergarten director Karena Wilson 'interviews' Emily Noonan who wrote a letter to Council requesting funds for the Footpath Project watched by kindergarten teacher Cammie Noonan and Roseview resident Gordon Greig.