PLAYGROUND PARADISE
Happy schoolchildren enjoy new playground
Lunchtime just got a lot happier for the 46 children who attend Okoia School – after six years of waiting, a playground has finally been built for them.
The small rural school, 5km east of Wanganui, lost its old playground in a land subsidence in 2004. Since then it’s been an uphill battle to raise the $40,000 needed to replace it. School principal, Deanna McKay, says the children have had to make do with cardboard boxes sliding down grassy banks and antique metal climbing frames in the meantime.
“It was very frustrating and quite sad for the children,” says Deanna. “We weren’t able to secure funds for the new playground from the Ministry of Education, so we had to look for alternatives – and given we are a small, rural, decile one school – it’s wasn’t easy. We did as much fundraising as we could and then we had to look elsewhere.
“Thankfully NZCT came to the party providing $10,000 towards the project, and we are extremely grateful for their support,” she says.
“Community is important to us, so when it came to selecting the playground, we elected to use local suppliers and trades people. We chose a variety of climbing activities to help develop upper body strength and challenge the children. We hope in time, to extend the playground to include more activities for our younger students.”
Okoia School is one of the only schools in Wanganui with a growing roll. And although it has just two classrooms and three teachers, Deanna says it has a great heart and is a warm, friendly school.
“There is a lovely family feeling here,” she says. “Everyone knows everyone else, and the students all enjoy coming to school. We are even attracting students from outside the Okoia Valley – some come by bus from Wanganui, so our reputation is growing.
“The new playground was long overdue and has been extremely well received by students. They are so excited to use it – and the school appreciates NZCT’s help making it happen.”
