Community grant will help Mypolonga Primary School get their swings back
A student-led fundraising campaign has had a big win at this Murraylands school.
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One person can make a difference – that's what students at Mypolonga Primary School have learnt.
The school recently received a $4385 grant from the Rural City of Murray Bridge to help construct a new set of swings.
Its year 4/5 students have been using their HASS lessons to help the upper primary get back the swings they lost due to the development of a toilet block.
The class recently had Murray Bridge's citizen of the year, Courtney Blacker, come in and talk about how just one person can make a big difference.
Ms Blacker then asked the students how they were going to make a difference, and they decided they would make it their mission to get the swings back.
Year 4 students Ruby Lear and Evie Kruger said they had been hard at work fundraising and, more recently, reaching out for more local support and volunteers.
So far, the class has raised more than $700 through multiple fundraising initiatives run by the students, including:
- A fruit stall at their sports day
- School casual day
- Donation box set up in the school's shop
The swing set will cost $4610, but the installation price will come out to a total of $8,770, which is where the community help comes in.
The class are now practising their letter writing skills in order to address local companies and families to lend a helping hand.
"Our class is making letters to other people and families to see if they can help," Evie said.
If the students can get help with delivery, site prep and erection of the swings it will save them a total of $2630, the girls said.
Principal Sunyl Vogt said the students had been missing the swings since the toilets were installed.
"It's been brought up on more than one occasion," he said.
The class' fundraising efforts will continue with a bottle and can drive and donation tins placed at the local football and netball club.
"We hope to raise at least $300 more," Evie said.
The school was incredibly thankful to receive the grant and looked forward to the ongoing support from providers that would make the space complete, Mr Vogt said.
Council awards thousands of dollars worth of community grants
Other projects around the district to receive support in the council's March community grants round included:
- Bridge City Church: $5000 for more cafe seating at the Hub on Darling Avenue
- Department for Education: $5000 for a mural at their Murray Bridge office
- Murray Bridge Blue Light: $1254 for a 10-pin bowling event
- Murray Bridge United Football Club: $5000 for new equipment
- Murray Valley Lutheran Community: $5000 to upgrade the John Dohler Hall kitchen
- Rotary Club of Mobilong: $4400 to hold a Lego exhibition at Murray Bridge High School
- Operation Flinders Foundation: $3500 to support young people from selected schools in Murray Bridge
