Goodwood students, from left, Matthew Johnson, Max Beaumont, Carrigan Rowe, Lia Bilbe, Luka Cranston, Oliver Crookston and Dylan Tollervey (absent: Amy Laurent) stand where the new pump track will go, with the scale model they’ve designed for the project.
A group of bright young students at Goodwood School are working together to create a pump track for their school and Fencourt community.
The Year 5 and 6 students which include Matthew Johnson, Max Beaumont, Carrigan Rowe, Lia Bilbe, Luka Cranston, Oliver Crookston, Dylan Tollervey and Amy Laurent, have been working towards the project since the beginning of Term 2, sparked by a learning inquiry to build something for their school. The original plan was to make an addition to the school playground, but when they visited other schools for inspiration, the pump track at Cambridge Primary School inspired them to create one of their own.
In fact, the idea had already started at Goodwood School, so the students took the reins and ran with it, coming up with a design that incorporates both a junior and senior course within the one bike track.
“I think it’s really powerful, a group of kids working together for the same cause, the same idea,” said Chris Garland, the teacher facilitating the project.
Their plan, brought to life in a miniature model, includes a watch tower, storage shed, jumps and booms on the corners. Already spray paint had been laid down to mark where the track will go, in a paddock adjacent to the school field.
The school’s PTA has held a casino night fundraiser for the project, sought a grant and is planning a quiz night fundraiser in late October. If all goes well, the track is planned to be built in early Term 4, once the damp spring weather has subsided.
The students said they’re most looking forward to seeing their idea come to life.
“I’m excited about getting the big scissors and opening it,” said Luka Cranston.
“I’m just excited to actually go on it,” added Oliver Crookston.
The group hopes the track will contribute towards physical education and help students to develop bike skills, as well as have fun.
