Canopy for bulging school
An Auckland primary school is looking for $600,000 for an outdoor canopy to help accommodate their growing roll.
Maungawhau School in Mt Eden is planning to build a large covered outdoor learning area over the school’s netball courts in the next 24 months. It will be similar to Westlake Girls High School’s outdoor sports facility.
The UV proof canopy will be the biggest in the central Auck- land area, measuring up to 34m wide.
The school’s board has also opted for a multi-purpose soft cushion surface rather than artificial turf.
The decision to build comes as the school struggles with a growing roll and little usable outdoor space.
Principal Delanee Dale says the school’s hall is ‘‘bulging at the seams’’ and they are unable to comfortably fit their 640 students into the hall for assembly.
The school has also been struggling with flooded sports fields which have been making it difficult to run any sports programmes.
‘‘Our field has really poor drainage and is often flooded in term two and three,’’ Dale says.
The covered area will also allow the school’s 19 netball teams to train in all types of weather.
There are plans to install lighting and an outdoor sound system which will create the potential for concerts to be held under the can- opy in the future.
Dale says the board has informed parents of the plans but are yet to make contact with the school’s neighbours.
The Ministry of Education will not fund the project so Maungawhau School needs to come up with $600,000 to help cover the build costs.
The school board has committed to pay for one-third of the costs while it’s hoped the majority of the funds will be sourced from grants.
Fundraising events such as science-a-thons, sausage sizzles, quiz nights, auctions and raffles will also be held throughout the year.
Louise May, from the school’s fundraising committee, says their annual fair will be the most significant event. The Maungawhau School Fair has been held every year since 1941 and has become a popular community event.
This year’s fair will be held at the school on October 15 from 11am till 3pm.