25 March 2015
TEAMWORK: Putauaki School students Nayton Matenga, Mataatua Fox-Kaipara, Danesha Elliott, Te Akau Bennett, Te Riina Peita, Turanga Tuhoro, Gabriel Ratema-Loach and Jade Fowell get their magic carpet ride rolling at the 2015 Top School competition on Sunday.
Photo Paula Massey
IT is not a case of Top School this year but Top Schools.
For the first time since 1990 the sought-after title is shared – between competition hosts Awakeri School and defending champion Kawerau South School.
For Kawerau South School it is the fourth time in six years that students have bagged the title. For Awakeri School, it is the first time since 2004.
Sunday’s competition in Awakeri attracted schools from around the Eastern Bay, including as far away as Whangaparaoa.
As in the past, it was held in conjunction with a fundraising garage sale and gala, the proceeds of which will this year go toward buying new senior play equipment for the school.
Awakeri School won the year 7 and 8 competition for intermediates and large full primaries ahead of Whakatane Intermediate, with Kawerau South School taking the primary section from runner-up Putauaki school.
Te Kura o Te Teko won the year 7 and 8 competition for small full primaries, with Otakiri School in second place. Otakiri School also won the prize for the largest cheerleading squad.
Awakeri School principal Peter Fitzgerald said it was another very good day, with “absolutely perfect” weather. It was topped off by a win for Awakeri, although he would have preferred not to have had to share the trophy.
Sourc: Whakatane Beacon