By Dongyun Kwon
After a huge success in fundraising for the upgrade of the Grade 3/4 playground, Healesville Primary School students decided to do one more fundraising for another playground.
Students are aiming to raise a $20,000 fund for the upgrade of the Grade 5/6 playground getting new platforms and monkey bars.
To reach the target, the students decided to run a Colour Fun Run and shop call again.
Healesville Primary School principal Tracey Robertson-Smith said the whole school community including parents, teachers and students worked together as a team to run the Colour Fun Run.
“Having the whole school community involved in the Colour Fun Run event is incredible,” she said.
“We’ve had a group of parents since nine o’clock this morning setting this course up and helping to run the event and we are really lucky to be part of such a good community.”
Grade 5 student Brandon said he fully enjoyed this year’s Colour Fun Run.
“Everyone enjoyed it and got colourful,” he said.
“Sunglasses were very helpful to run through all the colourful spray powders.
“We’re looking forward to the upgrade of the Grade 5/6 playground.”
Parents Rhianon Swindle and Ellesha Emary helped to run the event by spraying the powder at the hopscotch area.
“It’s good for the kids and they really loved it,” they said.
“It’s good that all the funds are going back to the school to upgrade its facility for the students.”
Grade 5 student Macey Norman said she also participated in fundraising last year.
“It was for the upgrade of the Grade 3/4 playground,” she said.
“I went along the streets and knocked on doors of houses and shops.
“I also went to the Rotary Club and did a speech at the RSL.”
Macey is doing the same thing to fundraise for the Grade 5/6 playground this year.
Macey said she was nervous before she started it last year.
“I find it helps build confidence and I also can improve my public speaking skill that I learnt at my school,” she said.
“But I don’t really find it nerve-wracking at all anymore.”
Ms Robertson-Smith is happy with the positive impacts of the fundraising activities on her students.
“Having to go and talk to older people in an unknown situation like the students have done has really raised their self-confidence and their ability to work with others,” she said.
“The students have gone to the nursing homes and local businesses asking for donations, so they’ve been interacting with the wider community.”
