Independent school in Kingston, Ont. raising $10,000 to create 'outdoor learning centre'
An independent school in Kingston, Ont., has launched a fundraising campaign to help build a space where its students get outside and learn.
The Quintilian School is a small independent school of fewer than 40 students; it caters to students who have learning differences like autism, attention deficit disorder and anxiety disorders.
The school is fundraising for what they call an “outdoor learning centre,” explains school principal Laura Desousa.
During the pandemic, she says students have spent more time outside, for classes like gym, and it made the school change their way of approaching learning.
“It just made us think what else can we do outside,” Desousa explains. “We’ve got this great space; let’s make it beautiful and usable for our learners.”
The space would include “tables, chairs and shade umbrellas” for children to have a proper space to sit and take their classes. It would also hold a greenhouse and garden beds to use for teaching skills and mental health support.
Ten-year-old Joey McKenna is one of the students at the school. He feels there’s a lot you can learn from a garden.
“The value of nature. Grade 1 math,” he says. “Johnny has 15 strawberries, he gives Sally two and a half. How many strawberries does he have?”
The Grade 4 student is living on the autism spectrum. He says spending more time outdoors for gym class is something he has enjoyed.
“I could wear my mask a lot less,” he explains. “A lot more fresh air.”
His grandmother, Linda McKenna, says being outside is beneficial for students like him.
“It provides great general health benefits for kids about learning how to re-regulate outside,” she says. “And kids that have anxiety or kids who have autism have been proven to actually function better when they get a certain amount of time outdoors.”
DeSousa agrees that it would help cater to their students learning styles.
“Our students definitely learn by immersing themselves in what they’re learning,” she explains. “So to be able to move outside and move our bodies and be learning in the environment of what we’re learning about, just makes more sense.”
The independent school has about 40 students in all and receives no government funding. DeSousa say the $10,000 total price tag for the dream project is a large one for the school, so they’re turning to outside fundraising through a GoFundMe campaign to make it happen.
DeSousa says they work to keep tuition low for students, so outside fundraising will help them build their project slowly.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
New Canadian study could be a lifesaver for thousands suffering from CTE
A first-of-its-kind Canadian research study is working towards a major medical breakthrough for a brain disorder, believed to be caused by repeated head injuries, that can only be detected after death.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.