School’s out but the gates at seven Illawarra schools will remain open during the holidays to allow everyone to stay and play.
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The seven local schools are among 166 public schools across the state taking part in the NSW Government’s Share Our Space program.
This is the third time the program has run, with an additional 85 schools having signed on to take part in the $30 million program since it was last held over the autumn school holidays.
This is four times the number of schools taking part since it was first launched last summer.
Here in the Illawarra, people can play in the grounds of Corrimal and Kanahooka high schools as well as Jamberoo, Koonawarra, Lake Heights, Mount Brown and Windang public schools.
This is the third straight time Koonawarra Public School is taking part, while it’s the second time for Lake Heights and Windang public school.
Before the autumn school holidays, Lake Heights assistant principal Jenny White told the Mercury the school was thrilled to be part of the program.
“We always like to encourage the community to use our outdoor area – it’s such an inviting space overlooking the lake,” she said.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the successful program was here to stay permanently.
“Schools across our state offer such valuable open and green spaces and it is great that instead of being locked away from the community over the holiday period, they will open for the community to enjoy,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Education Minister Rob Stokes said allowing access to school grounds and sports facilities during the holidays was a great way to encourage children to keep active.
Participating schools will receive a $5000 grant they can use to help upgrade their facilities for community and school use.
The playgrounds will be open from 8am to 5pm, seven days a week, from July 9 to 20.
Illawarra schools open over the July holidays:
- Corrimal High School
- Kanahooka High School
- Jamberoo Public School
- Koonawarra Public School
- Lake Heights Public School
- Mount Brown Public School
- Windang Public School