Harold the Giraffe sports new look

Harold the Giraffe is back in South Canterbury sporting a new look and an upgraded mobile classroom.

Harold still has his long neck but his new outfit now includes a top and trousers. His mobile classroom has had a $35,000 technology upgrade, which included two screens and a DVD projector.

Mid-South Canterbury Life Education Trust vice chairperson Roger Scammell said Harold’s updated look matched his style in new DVD programmes.

‘‘The children become familiar with this style,’’ he said.

The trust, which has been operating since 1991, covers from Rakaia to the Waitaki River, and inland to Twizel and Mt Cook.

The area includes 18 schools with fewer than 50 children; 31 rural schools and 36 urban school.

On Wednesday, the upgraded classroom was at Timaru South School – the 20th school it has visited.

Life Education Trust educator Rudi Keggenhoff said the trust had spent four days at Timaru South, delivering a curriculum-based health programme for primary pupils up to year 8.

The intention was to cover 67 schools, Keggenhoff said.

‘‘We are hoping to have covered 8000 students this year.’’

Harold had a very special purpose, Keggenhoff said.

‘‘Harold’s purpose is to tell the students they’re all unique and special, and they should respect and look after each other.’’

The programme has four strands. ‘‘We cover social relationships, self esteem, food and nutrition, and body focus.’’

A fifth strand included in the teaching sessions for year 7 and 8.

‘‘The fifth strand is substances where we talk about drugs, alcohol, medicine.’’