Playing to Win

Playing to Win: Outdoor Action Key During COVID

The Power of Play continued to be one of the strongest muscles in the School’s efforts to keep students, faculty and staff healthy during the school day — and through the pandemic.

With age-appropriate outdoor play equipment on both lower school campuses, Bolles provides opportunities for students to be outside throughout each day. During these times, students take in the fresh air while they sharpen their motor skills, physical fitness and rapport with one another.

On the Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus, the youngest students utilize a smaller playground and recreation area on the east side of campus, while older students use a playground, courts, fields and lunch spots on the west side of campus. All students attend PE classes in George Hall, or on the field beyond. Throughout the year, students also have the opportunity to eat outside as often as possible. On the Bolles Lower School Whitehurst Campus, the School’s youngest students enjoy

Seeking Higher Ground: A Classroom with a View

Interest and energy continue to build around the development of a treehouse outdoor learning space on the Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus.

The Bolles Office of Advancement has hosted several gatherings to share plans and generate enthusiasm for the project, which would add about 488 square feet of elevated classroom space to the campus and provide a new venue for students and faculty to convene, play and find inspiration. The treehouse platform is expected to be 383 square feet while an overlook and ramp add more than 100 square feet to the outdoor learning space.

The project has garnered much interest from donors and further planning, design and construction of the treehouse is expected within the next few months. (cont. from page 4) outdoor play in a gated area outside the Pre-K classroom. Older students attend resource and outdoor classes in a shaded area at the center of campus and adjacent to the riverfront Treehouse Outdoor Learning Center. Kindergarten students have their own outdoor K-Cove playground and space for innovative lessons and play. All students on the Whitehurst Campus use some of the fields and facilities on the Upper School San Jose Campus for sports and outdoor activities. Picnic lunches on the St. Johns River are always a fun occasion.

The Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus also facilitates opportunities for outdoor play and physical exercise. A spherical climbing structure is one destination for leisure time, while other students enjoy time on the basketball and four-square courts, ping-pong table, outdoor chess board and open field areas. While play equipment is not a standard for the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus, students still spend quite a bit of time outdoors on campus. Whether it’s riverfront outdoor dining each day, swinging under a tree on the bluff, taking in the meditation garden or catching up with friends on the lawn in front of Bolles Hall, students spend good, healthy time outdoors throughout each day.