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The Easter Bunny will be taking time out of his hectic schedule on Easter Sunday March 27 to visit children at the annual Leigh School Carnival.
As well as a big basket of chocolate eggs for the kids, organisers of this year’s event are promising “fine food, fresh local fish, a whole stack of bargains and fabulous entertainment”.
Funds raised at this year’s Carnival will be used to kit out and buy furniture for two new classrooms that are due to arrive at the school by mid-year. The new Portacom classes will be fully insulated, soundproofed “innovative learning environments” and will replace two 25-year-old prefabs.
Principal Julie Turner says the new classes are open plan, with different seating options and learning spaces, allowing for flexible group activities from whole classes down to one-to-one teaching.
“The Government does give us a furnishing and equipment allowance, but it doesn’t cover all the costs,” she says. “We need to replace tired desks and computer tables with bright, new furniture, and purchase new IT equipment to provide our children with an inviting, stimulating learning environment.”
Last year’s Carnival raised $22,000, which went towards an extensive playground renovation and a library upgrade, and money raised this Easter will also continue these projects, with repairs to the old fort in the playground and the installation of new shadecloth over the sandpit.
“We’re also continuing with our library makeover to provide a modern, usable space that the kids find engaging and enjoy spending time in,” Mrs Turner says. “Even with all of our school’s great IT equipment, books remain an essential and important teaching tool and a source of pleasure for our children.”
Leigh Carnival starts at 9am when the old-fashioned school hand bell is rung and all stalls open for business, including bric-a-brac, books, plants, flowers and produce.
Then at 9.15am the quickfire raffles begin, with plenty of fresh and smoked fish, seafood and shellfish from Leigh Fisheries up for grabs, and items worth more than $10,000 from local businesses will be open for bidding in the silent auction.
There will be classic food favourites on offer throughout, including Leigh Fish Burgers and local spit-roast lamb and salad baps, plus homemade scones and hot cross buns at the Carnival Cafe in the hall.
As ever, there will be plenty for the kids to do, from the ever-popular giant ice slide to rides, inflatables and a new electronic fishing game.
Info: leighcarnival.co.nz
