Playground Enhancement at Fleetwood-Bawden School - Lethbridge
Published: 05/31/2009 by Kim Willcock
Project Description
In January 2009, Fleetwood-Bawden School lost a dear student, classmate and friend, Mark Willcock.
Mark was a student in Grade 2 at Fleetwood-Bawden school, who passed away suddenly from meningitis.
Mark was a boy who loved to climb and play on the playground equipment. If he could have had one wish
at school, it would probably have been to have more time to play and more equipment to play on. Mark’s
parents requested that, in memory of Mark, donations be made to a playground fund at Fleetwood-Bawden
Is there a need for new playground equipment at Fleetwood-Bawden School?
>The equipment being looked at to be replaced is made of old, wood-based material which is
hazardous to our children, does not meet CSA standards, and is no longer recommended for
children’s play areas. Simply removing the equipment, without replacing it, will not provide
enough equipment to accommodate our school population.
Other than the 260 plus students ranging from Kindergarten to Grade five at the school, the
surrounding community hosts various programs that use the school and its’ playground on an
ongoing basis. Such groups include, but are not limited to, BLAST, Sparks, Brownies,
Lethbridge Little League, Lethbridge Soccer Association, as well as resident families.
>Recent research, which indicates that 35% of children are overweight and 7% are obese, is
alarming. How has this happened? It is as simple and as complex as children eating too much
and getting too little exercise. We can help by providing our children with opportunities, and
interesting and fun equipment that will encourage them to be active.
>Alberta Education has mandated 30 minutes of daily physical education in our schools. Even with
maximum usage, it is not possible for every classroom to be able to use the gym every day,
therefore we look for other avenues such as in the classroom and outside play.
>Alberta Education does not provide funding for new playgrounds; school operating budgets do
not have the additional dollars to put towards playground equipment; and School Council
fundraising already takes place to supplement the programs for children at Fleetwood-Bawden
School. If additional fundraising is done for a playground, even with the time and efforts of
many, it can take years to raise enough funds. With the age of the equipment, the number of
community groups that use our playground, obesity rates of children rising exponentially, and
mandatory 30 minutes of daily physical education, now is the time.
We are grateful for the many donations that have already been made by individuals and
businesses in the community. In addition to the ones we still hope to receive, we hope to secure
funds from matching grants that will allow us to proceed with this project in a specific,
manageable timeframe. Donations can be made to Fleetwood-Bawden School. Donations of
$25.00 or more will be given a tax receipt upon request.
This is your opportunity to be part of a legacy in memory of Mark Willcock,
a little fellow who will live in our hearts as a child who loved to climb, to swing, and to
play, and who would want nothing more than playground equipment for the
classmates he has left behind to climb, to swing and to play.
