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Bayside middle school gets money for new playground

Provincial funding buys new playground equipment for Bayside students

Students at Bayside middle school will have a new way to burn off energy come fall.

The Saanich school district received $50,000 of funding to replace and improve the school's playground equipment.

The money comes from the final instalment of an $8 million playground funding commitment made by Premier Christy Clark and Education Minister George Abbott last September.

"We weren't expecting it and we weren't looking for it so we are really thrilled," said Bayside middle school principal, Shirley Elm. "We definitely need more equipment. Some of our stuff is getting really old, especially the equipment around the side of the school, so we're really excited."

Before the school knew they had been granted the funds, the parent advisory council had discussed starting a savings fund to replace the existing aging playground equipment.

Bayside middle school administration expects the improvements won't benefit only their students, but also the many community members that use the school property on evenings and weekends.

"Whenever I come here on weekends there's always people using the field and the equipment, which makes me so happy. So it isn't just us that will benefit from this, its the community as well," said Elm.