By Mikayla van Loon
Mooroolbark East Primary School is getting to host its first fundraiser for the year with a focus on creating a fun and bright experience for all students to take part in.
Having held a similar event for the first time in 2019, the school council decided to bring back the colour run fundraiser, with a difference, known as Splatacular.
Parent and school council member Kylee Mather said the students all get to wear white and teachers get to cover them in bright coloured powders and slime.
“Initially, it was just about getting the kids out having some fun and they absolutely loved it, as you can imagine. We had planned on bringing it back the following year, but of course, then Covid happened,” she said.
“But as we got the go ahead from the department that we could run events, we went ahead and booked it and it will be all of the kids in the school no matter age or ability. Everyone can participate.”
Being the first major fundraiser the school has been able to hold in two years, Ms Mather said they wanted to make it fun and exciting for the students after a challenging couple of years.
“Like us and all the kids around the world, everyone has done it really tough and they haven’t been able to do fun things with their friends or at school,” she said.
“We just hope with these events they just get to run or walk the course with their friends and just just have a really good time.”
Having missed out on cross countries, school fates, birthdays, class parties and other milestone events of the primary school years, Ms Mather said this will be a great way of reactivating those missed opportunities.
While it is a fundraiser for the school, the school council hasn’t yet set a target as they want to make it accessible for all students and parents, particularly after a financially difficult time for some.
No matter what they raise on the day, the funds will go back into the schools facilities and equipment, like the new playground the school council was able to install before the pandemic.
“We never want to set a huge target. We just really want the kids to have fun. We haven’t allocated the funds as of yet but as always, the money goes back towards the kids in some capacity.”
Ms Mather said this event would not have been possible to organise without the work of Donna Larsen and the school’s PE teacher Grattan Stephens.
She also said as a parent it will be so nice to see her children getting to experience some fun, while thanking the tireless work of the teachers who also get to take part on the day.
