Determination saves pool

Pakowhai School pupils Rhyzia Nathan (left), Isobel Lloyd, Amber Fisher and Antony Valdez play in their still-filling pool.Photo / Duncan Brown

Since 1939 the children attending Pakowhai School have been making a splash and - despite shortfalls in financial Government assistance - principal Brendon Mitchell is committed to seeing that continue.

Even if it has cost $11,000.

Which is how much the school board had to come up with out of the reserves of their operational grants money to get the pool cleaned up, resealed and repainted for the start of the new summer term.

Many schools have found it tough to find funding to maintain or repair their pools, because Government rules around the use of property-plan funds are strict.

Schools effectively budget or seek grants or community help to keep their pools up to scratch.

Mr Mitchell said that with children often heading for beaches or rivers with family and friends during summer it was vital they had strong water sense and confidence.

"We consulted with the community here - we said we would like to do a lot more swimming but it may be at the expense of athletics," he said.

The response was "go for it".

"We may not produce a champion shot-putter or a discus thrower but we will have some very good swimmers," Mr Mitchell said.

The pool had deteriorated to the point where a complete check-up and new paint had been needed.

By early next week it would be filled with water again and ready for action.

Mr Mitchell said the 40 children on the roll would use it every day, and apart from the learn-to-swim benefits there were benefits in the classroom - especially on very warm days.

"On hot days we put the senior boys in the pool after lunch and by the time they do reading at the end of the day they have zoned out, cooled down and concentrate better."

Once a year with the help of Swimsafe the school brings in a surf lifesaving crew who run the children through the use of lifejackets and equipment.

The teachers join in the daily sessions in the 18m by 7m pool, which was originally dug out by horse and tractor.

"The school had a meeting in January 1939 and by December it was all finished," Mt Mitchell said.

The determination to build a pool for their school and to keep the children splashing between Labour Weekend and Easter still burned strong, he said, even if it meant having to juggle the finances.