Sue Furndorfler - Methven Primary's New Playground

Luke caught up with Methven Primary Principal Sue Furndorfler to ask about the new playground they are working on 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Wow, the children chasing a high of twenty two and
for the next few days looks to be great conditions
for getting out to your local playground. We're celebrating the
best all thanks to eat A Networks and as if
under wey. Addition to that, we head out to the
foothills and say hi to Methin School Principal Soup ferndorfla Hi, Hi, Curta,

(00:21):
tell us about the playground at Methon Primary.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Wow, we're looking at building some new new equipment in
our playground and adding to what we already have, which
we do have some great features already. We've got a
gagable person and leach playground, and we do have a
junior new playground as well. But we're looking for something
that's successful for all our children and we're about to

(00:44):
plan a new project.

Speaker 1 (00:45):
So I see that it was given a wee boost
from the recent meth and chill feest. What was that
about five thousand bucks or something that's cool?

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Actually, no, nine thousands even better. We were thrilled and
we actually approached mountt earlier in the year and asked
if we could could partner with them and look at
ways we could work together and they came back with
offering us to support their chill Fest and we had
some wonderful parents who stepped up and some staff members
and we provided some support on the night and yeah,

(01:15):
and we took the gate sales. So we were really
thrilled with the nine thousand. That's a really big starting
point to get us, yes, towards we're in Entiertoo.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
So you're one of many local schools I understand working
on projects like this borough in Churchy. You mentioned that
that operative term accessible. What does that mean when you're
putting together the new things for the playground here.

Speaker 2 (01:36):
Yeah, so we just want equipment that will work for
our children who are least mobile. And one of the
things that kuds love to play on is the sort
of the climbing style forts, and everything we currently have
is not accessible to children her and wheelchairs or who
are unable to climb. So we're looking at building a

(01:56):
structure that has a ramp style access with really cool
things to do once they get up into the sport
style structure.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
Must be rather exciting looking through all of the modern options.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, you, Sarah. We've actually also approached manhatt College and
we've got some of the DVC students that are helping
us design it. Yeah, we've had them over and we've
got three girls helping us and they're looking at they've
looked at what we think would be great options to
put together and they are going to come back to

(02:31):
us with a plan and then we're going to go
to some local builders and see what we can come
up with.

Speaker 1 (02:36):
Have you been brave enough to ask some of the
younger kidlets for some thoughts. I've got a wonderful mosaic
from Room three at Hempstead up on my wall at
the moment, and there's everything from a climbing wall where
you get a piece of candy at the top of it,
to a candy theme, to a pony riding ring to
underground trampolines.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
We haven't quite got those features, but they definitely want
things like a steering wheel and you know, binoculars and
things that they can can look like they're spying on
others and playing together here neat.

Speaker 1 (03:10):
So what's the timeline on that.

Speaker 2 (03:12):
So we're really just designing at this term, and we'd
be looking at tim one building the structure. We've got
a scooter pack the kids can scoot around and we
just want to incorporate this as part of that, so
they're sort of in and amongst that in a safe way.

Speaker 1 (03:28):
Super quick. It's full circle for yourself. I think I
remember reading an article a few years back when you
took the job because you're an ex student of me
from primary right, that's right, from student to boss. Is
there is there anything in the playground because we've been
sharing memories of the tractor in the Ashburton Domain playground,
which I swear has been there since the dawn of time,
alongside the elephant and the horse. Is there anything o

(03:51):
g A. The Mef and Brimary playground that you remember
having heaven some vun on No.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
No, no, not apart from probably the big old oak
tree that's sitting in the middle of the of the playground.
All the playgrounds nuisance then, so not so familiar.

Speaker 1 (04:10):
Still swinging off the oak tree though wonderful. Look forward
to keeping tabs on your exciting projects. Thanks for having
fun with us. Principal Sue fund Orfler