Far reaching climbing equipment introduced at Highland primary school.
A primary school in the Highlands today celebrates the installation of a climbing wall in its playground for pupils to exercise on at the start of Healthy Highland Week.
Pupils, parents and teachers of Daviot Primary School, south of Inverness will met today (Monday 15th January, 2007, 12 noon) open a traverse climbing wall which was recently installed by the Aviemore-based company Extreme Dream.
The climbing wall has been supported by the National Lottery through Awards for All and is part of a £9970 project to install adventure play and sports equipment at Daviot Primary.
Pupils, teachers, parents in the Friends of Daviot School are all involved in the developing the school’s playground project which aims to promote active and healthy lifestyles among pupils.
Chair of Friends of Daviot School, Alison Ross said: “We are aware of the health, well-being and social benefits of regular exercise and physical activity and appreciate the benefits to learning that this also brings. We are thrilled that our award will enable us to buy new and necessary equipment to expand the range of sport and activity available to all the children. The traverse wall looks great and the children certainly seem to be having fun on it.”
Abbie Dallas, Daviot Student Council member who is one of the first to try out the traverse wall said: “Our traverse wall looks attractive and is quite a challenge, both mentally and physically. It strengthens your arms, legs and improves your co ordination. You have to keep thinking how to do your next move. It is something new and fun to do so we’ll not be bored at playtime.”
Local Highland Councillor Kathleen Matheson said: “I commend Friends of Daviot School for their excellent efforts in applying for the Awards For All grant. This is an excellent example of how the community and its local school can come together to benefit our children who I am sure will enjoy keeping fit and having fun on the wall. It’s great to see new ways in which our youngsters can improve their health.”
Scott Muir, Director of Extreme Dream said: “As with all sports, schools hold a wealth of potential talent, they also hold a wealth of eager kids ready to experience the joy of climbing and grab a chance to try a sport they may never get outside of school. All that talent passing by! Climbing is the fastest growing sport in the country and no wonder because its one of the most natural and beneficial activities available to humans.
“We were born to climb – we just forget how to after childhood. Climbing is so quickly picked up by kids who see instant personal progress and success. It’s a sport that fosters co-operation and co-learning, where learning from your own and others mistakes is normal to progress. It’s a sport where even a mistake is celebrated because in every attempt there is acquisition of skills and knowledge of oneself and the environment and this always equals progress. Climbing is one of the most complicated motor and neuro-muscular activities we can take part in. No move is ever the same, not even on the same route due to atmospheric conditions so it’s an open sport where learning is constant and infinite in possibilities. Mentally Kids are challenged with sequences and problems that require determination and drive. Physically they grasp subtle body moves, gain in body coordination, flexibility, learn about their centre of gravity, the application of forces and gain all over body strength, especially in the core stabilising muscle groups of stomach and back. All this undoubtedly has a knock on effect to all other aspects of Physical Development and sporting participation.”
For further information please contact: Rachel Mohin, Head Teacher, Daviot Primary School tel: (01463) 772226