New Outdoor Teaching Space

In April the West Melton Country Fete was attended by over 5000 people from across the district. The Fete hosted two international food courts, over 100 stalls, a large kids entertainment area and all of the great fun you’d expect at a local fete like ‘dunk the teacher’ and a petting zoo. Run by the Friends of West Melton School (FoWMS) the Fete was generously supported by a number of local companies, of note were Gold Sponsors McLenaghan Contracting, Ray White West Melton and Your Section / Wilfield. Through this amazing support and a lot of hard work FoWMS were able to raise a massive $40,000 they could use towards school upgrades not funded by the Ministry of Education. 

During the July school holidays two outdoor areas were upgraded, the first project created an outdoor classroom space with decking and seating outside the Ti Kouka Block. The work was undertaken by  Chris Fifield Building Ltd – a local builder whose three children attend the school.

The second project was an extension of the playground area previously built using funds from the 2017 Fete. This extension includes a slide, tussock garden and wooden amphitheatre that can be used as an outdoor learning space.
This project was undertaken by local company McLenaghan Contracting who have supported the school in numerous ways for over 30 years. Andy and Carol who founded the company in 1989, sent all four of their children Jeremy, Hamish, Simon, and Kylie to West Melton School. Now Kylie’s daughter Amelia has joined the school – her first day at the start of Term 3 this year. Both contractors went above and beyond expectations, using their skills and resources to make the outcomes more incredible than imagined. FoWMS wish to thank everyone who attended or sponsored the Fete and look forward to seeing the community use these new spaces for years to come.