Schoolchildren to learn about making wine

Remarkables Primary School pupils celebrate getting one of their new shade sails in February. The $30,000 sails were paid for with proceeds of the Glittering Peaks fundraising auction and dinner in November. The newly elected Remarkables Parents Association has several fundraisers planned for 2011, including an initiative in conjunction with Amisfield Wine Company. Photo by James Beech.

The initiative between the school and Amisfield Wine Company will be launched on April 1 with the "crushing of the grapes" at the school.

Amisfield general manager and school parent Fleur Caulton said the company was proud to be associated with the project and had donated premium pinot noir grapes and wine-making expertise to the school.

"The kids will get first-hand experience of one of the biggest local industries from grape to table," she said.

As well as being a fantastic fundraising initiative, the project had many learning opportunities for the children and would be included in the curriculum throughout the year, she said.

Further details about the project, including its name, will be released soon.

It is one of the initiatives of the newly elected Remarkables Parents Association, intended to assist the staff, board and pupils of the school.

Chairwoman of the association Tracey Pedersen said she was thrilled more people had joined the committee this year to support the school, pupils and the wider community.

" We are a charitable organisation that assists with the development of educational and community opportunities... In 2010, we held our inaugural community event, Glittering Peaks, which raised over $38,000.

"Our [pupils] and community have benefited from this fabulous event, with the RPA donating the entire amount raised to the school to purchase new shade sails for the playground.

"We could not have done it without a great team and amazing community support," Ms Pedersen said.

Already planned for this year was a sales promotion and barbecue weekend with Noel Leeming, participation in the Queenstown Winter Festival and a "rugby-themed community social evening" in September.

Funds raised by the Remarkables Parents Association in 2011 will be given to the school to buy essential books and resources for the information centre.

Remarkables Primary School principal Debbie Dickson said the school relied on the support of the association and the wider community.

"Some people may think that being a new school we have everything we need, but it takes time to build up a good collection of resources and the school is constantly growing, with 150 new [pupils] started so far this year.

"We appreciate the truly remarkable support we receive from the Remarkables Parents Association.

"Our school is about community and how the parents, staff, the board, the [pupils] and the wider community can all work together to be the best we can be," said Mrs Dickson.