THE STUDENTS, teachers, parents and carers of eight small Tweed schools held a Market Day for local flood relief for their own schools and the community on Friday, May 19.
The Principals began planning an opportunity to test the entrepreneurship of their students last year, and following the floods, decided the project could help alleviate the difficulties created, particularly in the communities of Crabbes Creek, Condong and Tumbulgum Public Schools, which were particularly flood-affected.
“We devised a program for groups of students and classes to take on a project to create a market stall,” said the Relieving Principal of Burringbar Public School, Peter Halloran.
“The students were really engaged in the project aspect, but the preparation and operation of the stalls also needed solid work in numeracy, literacy, science, co-operation, problem-solving and critical thinking.”
Peter says the range of enterprises on display at his school on Friday, May 19 was stunning.
“We had dream-catcher makers, pancake-makers, stress-busters, homemade jam, laminated Pokemon pictures, slime-makers, fairground games, screen-printed T shirts and even a miniature farm zoo,” he said.
“Developing the students’ skills was the initial aim, but the amount raised surprised everybody, and the biggest benefit was intangible – it was a great morale boost for all those in the communities represented.
“It seems it’s one of those things small communities do best, and all the schools’ staff are hugely proud of their students’ achievement.”