Whangaehu's funky fish swim off on holiday

CLEVER FISH: Pupils Lucas Martin (left), Georgia Martin, Grace Martin, Aizak Cuff, Dora Markovits, Logan Cuff, Hunter Cuff and Gabor Markovits enjoy the end of year celebrations.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

Whangaehu Primary School students ended the year on a cheerful note and pupils were practising their "funky fish" dance to perform for families at their prizegiving on Thursday.

The ceremony was also a send-off for siblings Gabor and Dora Markovits and Lucas Martin who will leave his sisters Grace and Georgia behind.

With just nine pupils at the school that will leave a big gap. However, principal Craig Sharpe said there were a few new pupils enrolled for next year.

Parents and community visitors were treated to two songs, a bit of theatre and a slideshow of the school year before sharing afternoon tea.

The Mazda Foundation recently gifted the school $969.45 to purchase 10 uniform tracksuits for students to wear when they are out in the community representing the school.

"We haven't bought them yet," said Mr Sharpe "We have to see what sizes the new pupils are and some of the current ones are growing so fast they will probably be different sizes when they come back from the holidays."

The school does not have a uniform and Mr Sharpe said the tracksuits would help Whangaehu stand out when they joined other schools in their cluster group for activities.

Annabel Herbison of Boyd Public Relations said the Mazda Foundation wanted to do something for the families to acknowledge the adversity they experienced when their valley was flooded in June this year.

Each year, the Mazda Foundation selects people, community groups and charities in need of support.