New playground at Woodland Primary School ready for full-day kindergarten

A year of planning went into the design and construction of the new playground at Woodland Primary School in Gages Lake, and the end result is a play area featuring slides, swings and climbing equipment - in colors that blend nicely with a nearby wooded area - for 650 students.

The Woodland Elementary District 50 school board made the commitment in 2014 to fund the equipment. This week's unveiling of the playground went hand in hand with the implementation of the district's full-day kindergarten program.

Classroom and physical education teachers, special education staff and paraprofessionals worked together to pick the equipment appropriate for the students' ages and needs.

Woodland Primary School Principal Stacey Anderson said the playground will be in place for decades to come and it's available for the community to use as well.

"This playground is a symbol of our excitement over full-day kindergarten and involving students in learning how to play with each other and work together and be a kid," Anderson said. "When you come to kindergarten you are 5 years old, and it's important you know how to play with friends and move your body, and stay fit and healthy, so it's really about developing the whole child."

The Woodland Education Foundation also funded the purchase of age-appropriate tricycles. And coming this fall, a contest will be in place for students to name the playground.