Te Kura o Matihetihe Outdoor Canopy Fundraising Project

Our school currently has no shade or shelter, therefore our students are exposed to some extreme weather conditions throughout the year. Our school building layout consists of our administration block and three single cell classrooms which are separated by a court, with each classroom located in a corner of the court. Unfortunately, our last small area of shade was destroyed in an electrical storm which literally shredded it to pieces with a small insurance claim return.

In the summer months, our temperatures can reach over 40 degrees celsius. It has been so hot, the tar has melted in places on a court which is the centre piece and the main play area for the students of our school. Furthermore, there have been many times when some of our students have suffered from heat stroke, and lack motivation due to the extreme heat at times.

In the winter time, our region is subject to frequent torrential rain often causing flooding. Our students are unable to go to the toilet in the heavy rains without getting saturated. Sometimes, we place a long tarpaulin sheet over our students in a line to walk between classes or to the bus. The students have had numerous accidents while running to avoid being saturated in the heavy rains, hence the purpose of our humble plea for financial support to purchase an outdoor canopy to cover our court area providing shelter for our students as well as linking all the classrooms and administration block. This would also promote the special bond of unity our students have with one another as well as the staff.