Greasing the wheels of school renovation
Redwoodtown School principal Aaron Vercoe watches on as some students rebound shots off the school's plywood backboards. Photo: William Woodworth.
The Redwoodtown School basketball courts are looking at a facelift with the help of a toe-tapping fundraiser. A showing of the movie ‘Grease’ at Event Cinemas Blenheim, along with a guest display from the Top of the South Rock n’ Roll Club, is planned to kickstart the renovation effort.
“It’s about time to give [the courts] a refresh, make the whole school look enticing and exciting, and upgrade what’s been some well-used hoops and courts”, says Redwoodtown School principal Aaron Vercoe.
“Our backboards were painted by a group of year seven and eight students on plywood, so upgrading those into something that looks and feels the part makes them want to play and be proud of the sport they’re playing.
“Basketball is our school’s fastest growing sport across genders and ethnicities groups, alongside our netball courts as well, and there’s plenty of people using them after school hours too so it’s a real community impact.”
Plans for a rubber plexipave sealing with Redwoodtown School logos on top of the existing concrete, alongside upgraded hoops, is expected to run to approximately $80,000.
Redwoodtown School Parent Group chair Rebecca Toms said that after a sellout showing of ‘Dirty Dancing’, they’re hoping the same formula of showing a classic movie will kickstart this upgrade.
“We went with a classic and something that’s fun, building on what we did two years ago ... it’s also just something fun and exuberant in our community to get people involved and excited about.
“We as the parent group will be dressing up to theme, as will our Rock n’ Roll club guests, so we’re inviting people to definitely dress up.
“Our parent group do a variety of fundraising events, like garage sales and a Colour Run with proceeds going towards their support of several efforts at the school of which the court is one”, she says.
“We’ve got a few more dollars to raise and a few more events to come, but this will be a great start.”
Purchase cash-only tickets from Redwoodtown School or Tabletop Café in Blenheim.