Pupils achieve 'amazing success'

GROWL: Polar bears William Lynch, Kome Levi and Maikara Karaitiana-Goodger in costume for their annual production.

Solway Primary School pupils have been winning applause on stage and on the netball court.

Principal Gail Marshall said 136 Year 1 to 3 pupils took to the boards on Wednesday and Thursday last week for the annual junior production, this year titled Eddie the Penguin Saves the World.

"The production was about the environmental issues that are changing for Eddie the penguin, which could be a world our children will face in the future," Mrs Marshall said.

The play opens with Eddie noticing that ice at the South Pole is melting, forcing him and his family on a journey to live at the North Pole.

During the journey the penguins discover it is humans causing the damage to the environment.

"The penguins then help the humans to change what they are doing "so they can all survive in the future", she said.

"Bringing 136 five, 6 and 7 year olds together is always a challenge, however the staff and children proved it can be done.

"They sang, danced and acted their way through a wonderful hour of entertainment," Mrs Marshall said.

Costuming had been amazing, she said, and the staging and lighting, which had "all enhanced a spectacular performance for audiences of 200 at the matinee and 300 at the final night".

Mrs Marshall said the school was renowned for "turning out popular performances", which were "always a collaborative team effort involving staff, parents, extended whanau, the Lighthouse Church and the children themselves".

Another success story, she said, was a junior school netball team, the Solway Sapphires, who had "achieved amazing success this season".

The squad of Year 3 and 4 pupils who won their grade last season then on grading week were put up a grade as they were winning by such significant margins, Mrs Marshall said.

During the season they were put up another grade - had five games in that grade and eventually won that grade as well. "We call them the Pocket Rockets, as the teams they play are Year 5 and 6 and all taller than them.

"But they are fast and determined, a team to watch in the future."