Jackets get uniform approval

Kaikorai Valley College pupils Reuben Cook (12) and Tyler Philpott (11) model new jackets, given...
Kaikorai Valley College pupils Reuben Cook (12) and Tyler Philpott (11) model new jackets, given to junior college pupils by the board of trustees. Photo by Gregor Richardson.

Traditionally, homework has been the only thing schools have given pupils to take home.

But this week, year 7 and 8 pupils at Kaikorai Valley College have been given something they actually want to take home - their own fleece-lined jackets.

About 130 jackets, worth $12,000, and containing the school's monogram, were bought by the college's board of trustees and given to junior college pupils, free of charge.

Junior college head Damian Burden said the initiative was part of the junior college's rebranding.

''We wanted to give them [year 7 and 8 pupils] a sense of identity and a point of difference from the rest of the school.

''The kids have been so keen to wear them that it has been hard to get them to take them off during class.''

The jackets were high quality and durable, Mr Burden said, so much so, that at the end of each year, year 8 pupils were expected to return the jackets to the school so they could be given to incoming year 7 pupils.

Principal Rick Geerlofs said as well as the jackets, junior college curriculum modules had been revamped, junior college buildings had been refurbished, and new technology had been bought as part of the junior college rebranding.

It was ''a stepping stone to secondary schooling'', he said.

''All of this has created a positive buzz around the junior college that is filtering through the senior school.''

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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