Cranbourne South Primary School captains Kayley and Nathan, with principal Joe Kelly, are delighted to receive a Federal Government grant for the construction of a fitness track. Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Alison Noonan
LOCAL primary schools will share in almost $200,000 under a Federal Government initiative.
Cranbourne South, Devon Meadows, Pearcedale and Tooradin primary schools are all in line to receive funding as part of the Federal Government’s Investing In Our Schools program.
Cranbourne South will take the biggest piece of the pie, receiving $78,185 for classroom computers and construction of a fitness track.
Pearcedale Primary secured $50,000 to put toward a playground equipment upgrade.
Devon Meadows followed close behind with $40,000 to fund a new playground equipment replacement project, while Tooradin Primary School will acquire $18,198 to buy musical instruments and resources, and establish a new Accessing School Safely program.
Cranbourne South Primary School assistant principal Roma McKinnon said she was over the moon with the news the school had been successful in its funding application.
She said the money would go toward the construction of a fitness track around the perimeter of the football and soccer ovals in a bid to improve student’s fitness levels and combat childhood obesity.
“The track will incorporate various fitness stations and students will be encouraged to use it during recess and lunch times, as well as allowing teacher’s to conduct additional physical education sessions.
“Students will exercise on the track each day and it will be available for public use out of school hours,” she said.
Ms McKinnon said the school would also be investing in 33 new computers and replacing out of date equipment.
“This will allow us to improve the classroom computer ratio to three per classroom.
“These grants were vital for the school, in particular to enhance the technology for our students given that technology is a prime way to engage students in their learning,” she said.
Flinders MP Greg Hunt said the Investing in Our Schools Program would deliver muchneeded projects to local schools.
“It is especially significant because it will fund projects that have been identified by school communities themselves as being critical to their schools.
“These projects, though often desperately needed by schools, never seem to make it on priority lists.
“Rather school communities must face the long and arduous task of raising the necessary funding themselves,” he said.
