Playground surprise

Secret Harbour Primary School’s youngest students got a pleasant surprise last week when they returned from the holidays to find their playground had been transformed.

Teacher Yvonne Smith said the kindergarten and Year 1 students were delighted to find a specially designed water-pouring game and musical play area where there was once grass and dirt, in a special designated area close to their classrooms.

“The kids just love it — I think it absolutely blew their minds to see what had been done while they were off on holidays,” Mrs Smith said.

“Now at recess and lunchtimes they are all concentrating because they all have a job to do.

“We’ve even had some of the older kids wanting to come in.”

Education assistant Tracey Cassels said the makeover team, which included local Alcoa workers thanks to the company’s action grants program, sourced scrap materials to upgrade the playground.

“Everything that we have built has been made entirely from recycled materials,” she said.

“It’s also been an extra lesson for the children in the importance of sustainability.”