Books mean more money for new classroom
Geraldine Primary School pupils are fundraising for a $260,000 classroom, using books as a way to fund the project.
The new room is one of two being built at the school, replacing room 10 which will be upgraded by the Ministry of Education, and the school’s board of trustees’ owned room 13.
Teacher Jo Drake said because the board-owned room 13 the school would have to ‘‘replace it ourselves’’.
While the school has money in reserves to contribute towards the project, it needs to fundraise about $150,000 for the build.
Part of this fundraising will be a second-hand book sale at the school on March 23.
The new room 13 class will mean class sizes can remain smaller than the Ministry of Education provision, and will enable them to stop using the room at the rear of the school hall as a classroom, Drake said.
‘‘When they’re doing something in the hall, it can be noisy,’’ she said.
The extra space off the hall would then be free for other things, such as having itinerant music teachers or a place for targeted pupil sessions.
Drake said the ministry will do the upgrade on room 10, which will be joined to the new room 13.
‘‘The concept and everything is all done, and has all gone out out to tender.
It is hoped the build will start in June and be completed before end of the year.
Other fundraising includes pea-straw sales, which has earned $31,000. The school has also received a further $19,000 in donations from families and businesses.
The sale in the school hall will run from 10-2pm.