NEW SPORTS EQUIPMENT FOR CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL
Sporting fun for youngsters
Every classroom at Linwood Avenue School recently received a fun pack of balls and sports equipment, thanks to a $4000 grant from NZCT (New Zealand Community Trust).
The packs are all colour-coded, so each class knows what equipment belongs to them, and the students are thrilled with their new gear. Principal Christine Harris says it is important all children at the school have access to sports equipment.
“Being ‘Actively Involved’ is part of the ‘Linwood Learner’ school-wide focus,” says Christine, “And we are encouraging students to get active and feel good about themselves - both mentally and physically.
“These sports packs certainly help them achieve this,” she says. “Each of the 16 packs (one for each class) contains a four square ball, tennis balls, bands for team games, cones, plus a variety of other small balls - enough to keep each class busy and entertained for hours!
“The children make up games of their own with the equipment during their lunch break, and this is reinforced by teachers involving students in a variety of team games during their physical education sessions.
“It’s rewarding seeing the children use and take responsibility for the equipment. It certainly makes a difference to them and it’s fantastic seeing them get enthusiastic about physical activity.”
The children are making great use of the sports equipment, despite part of the school being temporarily off limits. A four month project to refurbish the junior classrooms begins next week. Once complete, the classrooms will have clean, bright accessible spaces for the children – with new benches, sinks, lockers, carpets and furniture all being installed.
In the meantime, the students will be confined to one side of the school and will have to get by with less space. No doubt the new sports equipment will help distract them though.
Stephen Boock, chairperson of NZCT’s Canterbury Regional Advisory Committee, says the trust was pleased to be able to support Linwood Avenue School and its students.
“NZCT is New Zealand’s sporting trust,” he says. “In fact, we’re the biggest funder of amateur sport in New Zealand.
“Encouraging children to develop ball skills and try new sports is great for the future of New Zealand sport. So we were pleased to be able to help these students.
“At NZCT we are mindful of returning funds generated through our gaming machines, back to the communities where they were raised. So I’d like to thank the publicans who helped make this grant possible.”
(Image courtesy of Christchurch Star)
