2 Friday, November 20, 2020 brooklintowncrier.com Less than half the picture: By Richard Bercuson Supporting a vital premise Evidently, the outdoors is a bonafide and exhilarating place to learn. To wit, Brooklin's St. Leo Catholic School under the stewardship of Principal David Malleau, who embraces education outdoors. Thanks to a $4100 gift from TD Friends of the Environment, the school was able to purchase trees and boulders (for seating) and secure their installations. All so as to provide students with an "outdoor classroom." This is not a new concept and it's one I championed in an Aug. 21 column entitled, "Is this idea really so crazy?" Evidently, at St. Leo, it's not only not crazy but welcomed. Malleau doesn't at all give the appearance of one who's spent a lifetime in the bush hunting and living off berries. In fact, I've no idea if he's ever done either, nor is it relevant. What he does though is recognize the importance of children in the time of Covid being in school, almost despite the weather. Almost. Once the temperature hits -20C (-4F), he says, they're obligated to remain indoors. "We have a long tradition here of going out no matter how cold it is," he states. The new treed, bouldered "classroom" will allow students a place to sit during classes. There's also this not-so-trivial point. "The kids are much more likely to come out regardless of the cold because they get to ditch the mask," he adds. And, I say, socialize and play, Aside from their outdoor phys. ed. classes, St. Leo students get additional mask breaks during the day, which, granted, many schools are doing. However, here, even math teachers are taking them outside while the day before our talk, Malleau explained how a grade 3-4 teacher conducted an outdoor class on ecology. The concept is grabbing hold elsewhere across the country as the crummy weather begins to embrace us. It begins - and to some extent, ends - with this premise: it is essential to keep kids in school AND in their activities. For instance, in Moncton, an elementary school is actually constructing pergola classrooms with seating made out of wooden pallets. A Belleville school has done much the same, conducting classes outside on a wood chip floor with tree stump seats. Indeed, science doesn't completely know where or why Covid cases rise, although a few instances appear to be obvious, like being maskless indoors among large groups. However, we do know where there have been no widespread issues: in schools and children's sports. With sensible and logical precautions, we can keep both going nearly full bore. St. Leo is one example of how education can, in its own way, turn lemon into lemonade. Ms. Bravo and her grade 1/2 students watch the planting ceremony Julia, grade 7, and Liam, grade 1, plant the official first tree while Principal Malleau looks on. Workers place the trees which will provide shade to students on warmer days. Many hands make, well, holes in the ground. The school allows students to dig all over school property. The holes do get filled up and then new ones magically appear elsewhere. St. Leo's Outdoor Classroom Takes Shape St. Leo held a tree (and boulder) planting ceremony to set up an outdoor space for classes.