Over 200 Holy Family School students spent up to an hour running around Kelly’s Flat last Friday (May 7) in a major effort to raise funds for a transformation for the school’s library.

All 206 students were sponsored to complete ‘Looney Library Laps’ of the football fields, leaping over various obstacles and negotiating the slalom run or bubble machine challenge to kickstart the funding needed to improve the school’s library resources. 

The Looney Library Laps event was the culmination of a week of fundraising initiatives which started with D.E.A.R - drop everything and read - and featured teachers reading to different classes, a visiting author and dressing up as favourite book characters.

Mt Gold classroom teacher Kathy Pittaway is one of three teachers driving the fundraising initiative. She said the week was enjoyed as much by the teachers as the students.

“We purchased some new books (finalists in the NZ AIM Children’s Book Awards) and teachers chose these or their favourites to read to different classes each day,” she said.

School fundraising is designed to transform the school’s library with new books, library furniture and a library management system. PHOTO: Supplied

Teachers joined the children in dressing up: “We had many Harry Potters and lots of fairytale characters.”

The visiting author was Callan Goodall who wrote Midmost Marvin, a book about being true to yourself and not trying to fit in.

The fundraising was necessary to transform the school library. Currently there is no designated ‘library’ space that fits the school’s needs so the school will be making a mobile library in each school block which will provide books appropriate to the students year levels, Kathy said. 

They also need library storage and furniture, new books to replace the old, and a new library management system.

Kathy said there had been a resurgence of reading, particularly of printed text on paper rather than using digital devices, and the school wants to meet that need. 

"Reading is still vitally important to every school and is a life skill that needs to be fostered and encouraged. In order to do this we need books that are attractive to all types of readers.” 

Over $12,500 has already been raised.

“This library makeover will require many more dollars than this but we are thrilled with the support from our families, friends and the wider community,” Kathy said.

“We will continue to gratefully accept any further donations which can be made to our Givealittle page as more funds equates to more fabulous books for our children to read.”