Building Bonds

St James' Primary School and St Joseph’s College, Banora Point, collaborated to create 'Tiny Towns,' an inclusive playground that fosters imagination and community engagement, providing significant benefits for both schools' students. (Term 3, 2023 -  Term 1, 2024)

In an inspiring collaboration to foster community engagement and promote physical activity among students, St James' Primary School and St Joseph’s College, Banora Point, joined forces to construct ‘Tiny Towns,’ a playground where children’s imaginations can run wild. This innovative playground, designed with inclusivity in mind, incorporates elements that encourage role play and maximise enjoyment without the use of plastic or purchased toys.

The project, which spanned from Term 3, 2023, to Term 1, 2024, brought together students from different educational levels to create a safe and stimulating environment for young learners while meeting the educational outcomes for College students. Despite weather-related delays, the playground was ready for use in Term 2.

Led by Kim Banko, the Year 11 Construction team from St Joseph’s College took on the challenge of designing, constructing, painting, fitting the cubbies, and levelling the ground. The result is a natural, engaging space where students from K-6 can use their surroundings—bark, rocks, leaves, seed pods—for imaginative play. The police station has become a favourite, with students enjoying role play and the playful enforcement of playground rules.

‘The Tiny Town partnership has been a rewarding experience for our Construction students. Not only have they been able to apply their practical learning to build a tiny town, but they have also learned more about serving others and the joy it can bring to both individuals and the community. We look forward to further opportunities for our students to work with St James' Primary School,’ said Ryan Campbell, Principal of St Joseph’s College.

This joint endeavour not only enhances the educational environment but also cultivates a sense of camaraderie and shared responsibility within the broader school community. It lays the foundation for future collaborative initiatives that enrich students' lives and strengthen bonds between the schools.

‘It has been truly heartwarming to witness the dedication and commitment of Kim Banko and the entire cohort of students who tirelessly and enthusiastically created the Tiny Towns,’ said Nicholas McTaggart, Principal of St James' Primary School.

The ‘Tiny Towns’ playground has quickly become a favourite among students, significantly reducing behaviour issues and providing a popular spot for the Monday morning playgroup and siblings waiting for their brothers and sisters at the end of the school day. Families often remain after school to let their children enjoy the playground, fostering a strong sense of community.

‘I like the police station because we get to play imaginary police and put people in jail,’ said Year 1 student Maisie.

This is the second collaborative project between St James' and St Joseph’s, following the successful construction of a chook pen. The partnership between these schools continues to thrive, with more exciting projects on the horizon. This new space promises to provide engaging learning experiences for the children of St James', offering endless hours of joy and laughter.