|
|||||
| Media Release Latest
News | Archives Blockhouse Bay Primary looked no further than their own senior syndicate, dubbed the Kawakawa Kids, to design their own playground. They used the exercise to compete, and ultimately win, the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) Neighbourhood Engineers Award. The IPENZ Neighbourhood Engineers Award, sponsored by Transpower, is an initiative in the Neighbourhood Engineers programme. The Award is to create a greater awareness of the engineering profession and encourage innovative thinking in the areas of engineering and technology while meeting the objectives of the Technology Curriculum. IPENZ member, Sanjesh Lal, from Blockhouse Bay, and an engineer with Opus International Consultants was their neighbourhood engineer involved with the project. He has always been interested in IPENZ activities in the community and has two children at Blockhouse Bay Primary. “I initially had no idea what type of project I would initiate that would achieve the goal of keeping 8 – 10 year olds interested – my initial ideas were worm farms, school safety audits, and footpaths, but none seemed to capture their imaginations – until the idea of designing a new school playground was mooted,” said Sanjesh. “The kids were ecstatic, and were drooling at thoughts of racing tracks, play station studios, flying foxes, and arcade games, but alas, the issue of constraints needed to be explained. “Piece by piece a project path was explained and once the issues of need, resources, and safety and budget were explained the kids were quick to get back to reality,” he said. The kawakawa kids after many brainstorming sessions came up with a plan for a new playground which included a walk over chess board, fort, merry-go-round, quiet areas and timber boardwalks. “What was the most humbling experience for me was when they designed wheelchair access for handicapped students, and designed playground seats so that a wheelchair could park alongside and the disabled student could chat to friends. With this project I realized that a lot could be learnt from a child. “The Kawakawa Kids are now very appreciative of how a small pie in the sky idea can actually evolve into a real thing…all it needs is teamwork, commitment and thinking outside the square,” said Sanjesh. Chris Roberts, as representative of the IPENZ Neighbourhood Engineer
sponsor Transpower, and an IPENZ representative presented the Kawakawa
Kids with their $2,000 prize and certificates on Wednesday 8 December.
IPENZ Neighbourhood Engineers Award
Ends For more information contact: Megan Rodden Blockhouse Bay Primary School Sanjesh Lal
|
|||||
 |
|
|
