St Matthew's Primary outdoor learning area
Donation protected
Not run, cycled or kayaked in at least 10 years? Tick!
Not a very good swimmer? Tick!
Fancy doing a quadrathlon to raise money for St Matthew’s Primary School’s outdoor learning area renovations? Oh, go on then!
Why, you may ask?
My 7-year-old twins attend St Matthew’s Primary in Stretford. St Matthew’s is an amazing school where every child is valued and made to feel special, safe and heard. It has an incredible team of teachers and staff that constantly go above and beyond because they truly do have every child’s (and family’s) interests at heart. Both of my children love being part of the St Matthew’s family! When I asked them what they love most about the school they both shouted ‘everything’, but they especially love the lessons they have outdoors because ‘they are fun and really cool’.
With all that’s happened over the last year I think it’s fair to say we all recognise how important it is to be outside as much as possible, for both our physical and mental wellbeing, and therefore the opportunity to learn outdoors offers massive benefits to our children. By being able to get away from the constraints of the classroom, children can enjoy and benefit from the fresh air, sunshine and become more relaxed and focused on the activities set for them. Their imaginations run wild, which enhances creativity and improves learning as children look around themselves and ask inquisitive questions about the world around them. All of this provides massive mental health and wellbeing benefits for our children.
St Matthew’s is a school committed to outdoor learning and they have a long history of using their wonderful grounds to enhance learning opportunities. Their vision is for children to ‘embrace the outdoors’ and their staff are currently training to be ‘Muddy Puddle’ practitioners so they can learn of further opportunities to take lessons outside! Unfortunately, St Matthew’s Primary School’s outdoor learning spaces need major work to make them safe and usable. Whilst the current outdoor classroom is beyond repair, the school has plans to open up the area to create a safe, useable space for a full class of 30 children, with a seating circle, willow tunnels, wildlife garden, pond area and raised beds so each class has the space to grow their own vegetables.
Having watched both my children struggle with their mental health throughout the pandemic and knowing how much the staff at St Matthew’s value outdoor learning, I have signed up to do the Deva Divas quadrathlon on the 11th July 2021 to raise money towards the renovation of St Matthew’s Primary School’s outdoor learning space. The quadrathlon comprises of a 750-meter river swim followed by a 4km kayak, then a 25km road cycle and finished off with a 5km run. Being as unfit as I am, any one of these would be a challenge for me and require a lot of time and energy to train for, but as we need to raise over £10,000 for the first phase of the renovation work, I decided I have to go big and do all four at once!
Here’s where you come in. Please, please, please sponsor me in this crazy challenge and help us renovate the St Matthew’s outdoor learning space and subsequently put a massive smile on the faces of all the children and staff. Any amount, big or small, helps and is greatly appreciated.
I’ve set up a facebook page www.facebook.com/Jules-Quadrathlon-Training-111483257784921/ so you can follow my training progress, laugh at the photos of me, help keep me motivated and most importantly see if I survive the challenge!
Thanks
Jules
Not a very good swimmer? Tick!
Fancy doing a quadrathlon to raise money for St Matthew’s Primary School’s outdoor learning area renovations? Oh, go on then!
Why, you may ask?
My 7-year-old twins attend St Matthew’s Primary in Stretford. St Matthew’s is an amazing school where every child is valued and made to feel special, safe and heard. It has an incredible team of teachers and staff that constantly go above and beyond because they truly do have every child’s (and family’s) interests at heart. Both of my children love being part of the St Matthew’s family! When I asked them what they love most about the school they both shouted ‘everything’, but they especially love the lessons they have outdoors because ‘they are fun and really cool’.
With all that’s happened over the last year I think it’s fair to say we all recognise how important it is to be outside as much as possible, for both our physical and mental wellbeing, and therefore the opportunity to learn outdoors offers massive benefits to our children. By being able to get away from the constraints of the classroom, children can enjoy and benefit from the fresh air, sunshine and become more relaxed and focused on the activities set for them. Their imaginations run wild, which enhances creativity and improves learning as children look around themselves and ask inquisitive questions about the world around them. All of this provides massive mental health and wellbeing benefits for our children.
St Matthew’s is a school committed to outdoor learning and they have a long history of using their wonderful grounds to enhance learning opportunities. Their vision is for children to ‘embrace the outdoors’ and their staff are currently training to be ‘Muddy Puddle’ practitioners so they can learn of further opportunities to take lessons outside! Unfortunately, St Matthew’s Primary School’s outdoor learning spaces need major work to make them safe and usable. Whilst the current outdoor classroom is beyond repair, the school has plans to open up the area to create a safe, useable space for a full class of 30 children, with a seating circle, willow tunnels, wildlife garden, pond area and raised beds so each class has the space to grow their own vegetables.
Having watched both my children struggle with their mental health throughout the pandemic and knowing how much the staff at St Matthew’s value outdoor learning, I have signed up to do the Deva Divas quadrathlon on the 11th July 2021 to raise money towards the renovation of St Matthew’s Primary School’s outdoor learning space. The quadrathlon comprises of a 750-meter river swim followed by a 4km kayak, then a 25km road cycle and finished off with a 5km run. Being as unfit as I am, any one of these would be a challenge for me and require a lot of time and energy to train for, but as we need to raise over £10,000 for the first phase of the renovation work, I decided I have to go big and do all four at once!
Here’s where you come in. Please, please, please sponsor me in this crazy challenge and help us renovate the St Matthew’s outdoor learning space and subsequently put a massive smile on the faces of all the children and staff. Any amount, big or small, helps and is greatly appreciated.
I’ve set up a facebook page www.facebook.com/Jules-Quadrathlon-Training-111483257784921/ so you can follow my training progress, laugh at the photos of me, help keep me motivated and most importantly see if I survive the challenge!
Thanks
Jules
Organizer
Julie Treagus-Mullan
Organizer
England
