AN AUSTRALIA Day at a Solihull junior school has raised more than £200 towards the Australian bushfires relief appeal.
Pupils were invited to make a £1 donation in exchange for coming into school dressed in the colours from the Australian flag or with an Australian theme.
Head teacher Mark Knowles, of Coppice junior school, said: “It was a resounding success and for a small school it was a great sum to raise. What I am most proud of is that it was all the children’s idea.
“We are a very animal friendly school – we have guinea pigs and stick insects – and when our Year 6 pupils saw in the media what was happening to the wildlife they were very upset.
“We had a fair few cork hat, animal-themed onesies and some of our children in Year 3 came in dressing gowns and PJs because they said ‘everyone in Australia is asleep’!
“I went on an educational trip to Australia a few years ago and brought a didgeridoo into school, which I attempted to play.”
Moved by the dramatic television pictures showing widespread destruction, serious damage to the environment and the loss of people’s homes, the idea came from Year 6 pupils who asked the head for permission for a non-uniform day. The idea evolved as it was Australia Day on Sunday January 26.
