The students at Apii Te Uki Ou hosted their iconic annual Gala Day yesterday, ever so energetic and eager to light up their school with fun and games even after participating in the inter-school Prince of Wales Athletics Day the day before.

The theme for the Gala Day was ‘Storybooks,’ as the students had covered a lot around storybook characters and themes throughout the term especially in the lead up to this year’s ‘Literacy Day’ which was held earlier in the term.

Candy apple, cupcake and lolly jar stalls, umu food, a bouncy castle, a ‘haunted house’, a petting zoo, and even a visit from the Rescue Fire Service which provided one of their trucks to take the children for rides around the block in turns, were all part of the jam-packed day.

Each of the themes for the stalls were created by the students with each class being given the task to come up with an idea for a food stall, a game stall and a merchandise stall. Themes including ‘Alice in Wonderland’, and ‘Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory’, were brought to life through the different decorative stalls that popped up on the school’s grounds.

As storybook characters had been incorporated into much of the student’s learning this term, it made it easy for them to come up with themes to centre their gala around.

Tina Mitchell, the secretary of the school, said: “The gala is based around their curriculum from throughout the term, the kids drive it as they base all the stalls off of what they have been learning throughout the term. They are very involved and proactive.”

“If we make money, that will be a bonus. The main focus is more on creating a big fun day for the kids in the community and to wrap up the students’ study for the term,” she added.

Esme Baker having a cuddle with one of the puppies at the Gala’s petting zoo - 21093008

A petting zoo which hosted baby goats, puppies and piglets for the day brought many excited visitors - 21093009

Students were able to buy things at their gala with ‘gala money’ which was swapped in for real money by teachers - 21093010

Over twelve stalls lined the school grounds yesterday, with stall owners happy to stay perched under their shady tents away from the hot sun - 21093011

Little ones went crazy for the bouncy castle that was set up as one of the main attractions of the day - 21093012

The ever popular ‘Haunted House’ attraction designed by the students and teachers saw a long line of thrill seeking participants wait to go through - 21093013