The new Clearspring Middle School has opened in Steinbach without a functioning gym.
Crews have yet to install the hardwood on the gym's floor and Phys.ed teacher AJ Neufeld says it could be a few weeks before it's ready.
"The plan in the short term is we have this multi purpose room," explains Neufeld. "We're going to run some classes in here and the weather is really nice outside, so we do have some field space outside that we can use right now."
Neufeld explains majority of the grounds have yet to be landscaped and so that eliminates a lot of potential use outdoors.
"There are other areas where we're not going to have people moving in the short term because it's sodded and we obviously don't want them on that," he says. "And then there's also top soil as well but we don't want to disturb."
As a result, Neufeld says the plan is to focus on activities that aren't necessarily sports related. For example, capture the flag.
"We're also part of a program called Recess Guardians that teaches low organized games to kids of this age level," he says.
Neufeld says what he's most excited for, is all the space he'll have to work with in the new gym.
"These kids are not going to be confined in any way as they're kind of learning new movements," notes Neufeld.
Furthermore, he says the budget he has to work with will allow him to use a lot of technology such as heart rate monitors and pedometers. "To really give them skills that they're going to be able to use in high school when they get there but then also in life later on."