Rotorua Trust funding opens doors for Sunset School pupils

Sunset Primary School principal Eden Chapman. Photo / File

For many kids, extracurricular activities and weekends spent on the sports fields are a rite of passage.

But for students at Sunset School it is not so simple.

Over the past decade the school has not taken part in many sporting or cultural events, because of difficulties with getting students to activities.

That is all about to change though, thanks to a bold funding decision from Rotorua Trust which has agreed to fund a position within the school to help improve students' access to extracurricular activities, whether that is arranging transport to weekly sports events or running after-school music clubs.

Principal Eden Chapman said the $37,300 funding, and the new role it allowed, would go a long way to removing as many barriers as the school could to make sure they have the opportunities some other students took for granted.

"This funding will enable us to offer a little bit more and open up some opportunities that kids might not otherwise think they can get into."

But Chapman said it was more important than just the funding they had received.

"It is a bigger gift than that and it will pay dividends well into the future".

Employing someone was not simply adding another staff member to the team, and was about helping to free up the burden on teaching staff so they could concentrate on what they did best – teaching.

"It is not just another person, it is the freedom that provides for teachers."

For the school's 120 pupils, it was also about providing them with more opportunities and "filling their bucket".

While funding a staff member was not something the trust had traditionally done, chairman Stewart Edward said it showed the flexibility the trust had to work with organisations to truly make a difference.

"We chose to sit down with Mr Chapman and understand the needs of the school. That allowed us to see the real benefit funding this role would make in helping students participate in sports and other activities.

"We are really optimistic that this action will make a difference. Giving students the opportunity to take part in sports also teaches resilience, will have health benefits and nurture sporting talent.

"Equally, encouraging more children to take part in music opportunities has benefits that extend beyond the class environment."

The Rotorua Trust AGM will be held on Monday, July 22 from 1pm at Parksyde Community Centre, on Tarewa Pl.

Light refreshments will be served from 12.30pm, ahead of the meeting.

A candidates' evening for people considering standing in the November elections will be held on Thursday, August 1.