Young Designers at Work & Play

Although it’s the end of the school day at Weston School, learning continues at the Young Designers at Work and Play Program. Weston students, who are in nursery through Grade 2, along with their families are invited in to their school from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to play, invent, design, create, share, learn and enjoy a meal together. Tables are set up in the library with various materials like pool noodles and tooth pics, modelling clay, magnet building blocks and more for students to allow their creativity to run wild through experimentation and exploration.

This parent and student program is led by WSD’s STEAM support teachers, Adam Charbonneau, Gabrielle Huggins-Frank and Murray Mandzuk. Now in its second year, Young Designers at Work and Play rotates between two schools, once a week, for six consecutive weeks. December 13, 2023 wraps up the six-week program at both Weston and Sargent Park Schools, with four more schools scheduled to start in the new year: Tyndall Park, Strathcona, LaVérendrye and Glenelm Schools.

The first 45 minutes of the program are dedicated to free play, where the students have the freedom to build and create with their peers and parents or caregivers. Not only are students engaged in building, they are also working on their communication skills as they’re encouraged to share their ideas and discuss what they are creating shared program organizer, Adam Charbonneau.

“They’re not going to a table and quietly building, the students are talking about it and encouraging one another. It’s a big part of the program is building on their oral language skills,” said Charbonneau. “We wanted to create a program where we’re able to build bridges between the school, the community and the experiences that happen within the school, specifically STEAM experiences and exploration.”

Mandy, a parent in the program, is attending the Weston sessions with Grade 1 student Trinity. Trinity said her favourite activity is the sharing stick and was proud to show off the birthday cakes she made using pool noodles and tooth picks.

“We are always doing something new and different, it’s interesting and opens up our eyes. I think it’s important to give them (students) good memories and we love it, it’s all about imagination and creativity,” said Mandy a parent in the program.
Another parent who was busy building at the magnet building blocks table, couldn’t believe how well her child was doing putting the pieces together.

“My daughter comes to this table first! I know what to get her for Christmas this year, in fact, as soon as I saw her building, I ran out and bought a set.”