The school gates are staying open and the proposal for a fence has been officially dropped. It has been a long and draining road to protect our space but we finally reached the outcome we fought for. Take some time to enjoy this win and keep watching the school grounds …
April 26, 2014
Final supporters
Copacabana Public School is a ‘rare gem’ in the Copacabana community. The quality of care and education that our children receive, to the wonderful relationships that have formed between parents, staff, children and other community organisations cannot have a value put on them. This has been achieved by the schools commitment to embracing the people of Copa and who have developed an overwhelming feeling of connection and ownership to our ‘little school’.
The schools informal policy of allowing access to certain areas of the grounds, has been crucial to many families in Copa who struggle to find safe, flat, open areas in which to teach their kids to ride a bike, or kick a ball. It is a policy that has meant very little vandalism and increased the community’s ‘passive surveillance’ of the school grounds.
Now, through no request by Copa School management, a small number of people are calling for the school to be fenced off and essentially ‘locked down’ by building a large security fence around the property. There has been no spike in vandalism, nor any validated issue to call for this radical step.
This isn’t the Copacabana we live in is it? Where our school and only flat open spaces need to be locked up and away from the community who love it? Is a fence even the best solution to whatever concerns people have? The Copa community has always had a strong relationship with the school, even assisting to level the playing field only 2 years ago.
If you agree that Copacabana Public School generously serves our community in its present form, and does not require a 6ft security fence to protect it, then please add your name to the list. Once its gone to the community, its gone forever!
Please add your name to this petition and say that Copacabana Public School SHOULD NOT have a security fence installed. Instead, should any future need arise, that all alternate options be explored first. Only then, should school management make the request, would you be prepared to support such drastic action.
Updates
March 3, 2014
Reaching this level of support has been a heavy experience given how much this school means to us. It is exhausting to fight for open space in a community that should naturally value it, but seeing this momentum keeps me going.
Reached 100 supporters
March 3, 2014
82 Comments
Please don't fence copa school. I grew up practically across the road from the school 30yrs ago & it was the neighborhood backyard & still is today. It would be horrendous to see a ugly great big fence there.
I think one of the problems is that during the weekends and school holidays at night, there are teenagers entering the school grounds, drinking and so forth. Could the school turn of the lights under the cola? This will save power as well . I would hate to see the school fenced off, so many in the community benefit from it.
I grew up behind this school and loved playing down there with friends after hrs, I live in Melbourne now but visit regularly with my 2 girls and would like them to be able to play and ride their bikes down there. Copa does not need a fenced in school!!!
We live in copa and my eldest (3) learned to ride his scooter on the grounds. I hope you dont fence it off so other families can benefit from the flat areas for the kids to play and run. Cheers jane
My daughter has just started kindergarten at Copa, her father now in his late thirties also went to Copa primary, the fence wasn't needed back when he went to the school and I don't believe it's needed now. The money could be spent elsewhere for better use for the children.
With all due respect to the person who has began this petion, I think that there has been a miscommunication and understanding on why some people are asking for the fencing of the school. First et me clarify that the community will still have access to the school grounds during the weekends and school holidays , as the gate WILL NOT be locked. Secondly, and most importantly, is the continual sexuall assault of a child in the schoo, premises DURING school time. There where two offenders, one which has not yet been identified. The petition to have the school fenced, is to minimise the risk to our children. IIt woud be nice to believe that our beautiful community is immune to the ugliness that does exist, however the reent attempted abduction of an 11 year old copa kid on copacabana drive proves that we are not. We as a community need to do everything we need to protect our children. Our jobs as parents is to ensure the safety of our children, and stop believing that ur community is immune to this type of crimes.
The grounds are a convenient play space for children that does not exisit elsewhere in Copa and needs to be retained
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The school gates are staying open and the proposal for a fence has been officially dropped. It has been a long and draining road to protect our space but we finally reached the outcome we fought for. Take some time to enjoy this win and keep watching the school grounds …
April 26, 2014
Final supporters
Copacabana Public School is a ‘rare gem’ in the Copacabana community. The quality of care and education that our children receive, to the wonderful relationships that have formed between parents, staff, children and other community organisations cannot have a value put on them. This has been achieved by the schools commitment to embracing the people of Copa and who have developed an overwhelming feeling of connection and ownership to our ‘little school’.
The schools informal policy of allowing access to certain areas of the grounds, has been crucial to many families in Copa who struggle to find safe, flat, open areas in which to teach their kids to ride a bike, or kick a ball. It is a policy that has meant very little vandalism and increased the community’s ‘passive surveillance’ of the school grounds.
Now, through no request by Copa School management, a small number of people are calling for the school to be fenced off and essentially ‘locked down’ by building a large security fence around the property. There has been no spike in vandalism, nor any validated issue to call for this radical step.
This isn’t the Copacabana we live in is it? Where our school and only flat open spaces need to be locked up and away from the community who love it? Is a fence even the best solution to whatever concerns people have? The Copa community has always had a strong relationship with the school, even assisting to level the playing field only 2 years ago.
If you agree that Copacabana Public School generously serves our community in its present form, and does not require a 6ft security fence to protect it, then please add your name to the list. Once its gone to the community, its gone forever!
Please add your name to this petition and say that Copacabana Public School SHOULD NOT have a security fence installed. Instead, should any future need arise, that all alternate options be explored first. Only then, should school management make the request, would you be prepared to support such drastic action.
Updates
March 3, 2014
Reaching this level of support has been a heavy experience given how much this school means to us. It is exhausting to fight for open space in a community that should naturally value it, but seeing this momentum keeps me going.
Reached 100 supporters
March 3, 2014
82 Comments
As a Copa school parent I am totally opposed to a fence locking the community out of the school. The P&C's money would be much better spent on a covered walkway to the demountable classroom so the kids can stay dry.
Please don't fence copa school. I grew up practically across the road from the school 30yrs ago & it was the neighborhood backyard & still is today. It would be horrendous to see a ugly great big fence there.
I think one of the problems is that during the weekends and school holidays at night, there are teenagers entering the school grounds, drinking and so forth. Could the school turn of the lights under the cola? This will save power as well . I would hate to see the school fenced off, so many in the community benefit from it.
I grew up behind this school and loved playing down there with friends after hrs, I live in Melbourne now but visit regularly with my 2 girls and would like them to be able to play and ride their bikes down there. Copa does not need a fenced in school!!!
We live in copa and my eldest (3) learned to ride his scooter on the grounds. I hope you dont fence it off so other families can benefit from the flat areas for the kids to play and run. Cheers jane
My daughter has just started kindergarten at Copa, her father now in his late thirties also went to Copa primary, the fence wasn't needed back when he went to the school and I don't believe it's needed now. The money could be spent elsewhere for better use for the children.
With all due respect to the person who has began this petion, I think that there has been a miscommunication and understanding on why some people are asking for the fencing of the school. First et me clarify that the community will still have access to the school grounds during the weekends and school holidays , as the gate WILL NOT be locked. Secondly, and most importantly, is the continual sexuall assault of a child in the schoo, premises DURING school time. There where two offenders, one which has not yet been identified. The petition to have the school fenced, is to minimise the risk to our children. IIt woud be nice to believe that our beautiful community is immune to the ugliness that does exist, however the reent attempted abduction of an 11 year old copa kid on copacabana drive proves that we are not. We as a community need to do everything we need to protect our children. Our jobs as parents is to ensure the safety of our children, and stop believing that ur community is immune to this type of crimes.
The grounds are a convenient play space for children that does not exisit elsewhere in Copa and needs to be retained
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As a Copa school parent I am totally opposed to a fence locking the community out of the school. The P&C's money would be much better spent on a covered walkway to the demountable classroom so the kids can stay dry.