MAIN: Retired sports teacher Gary Bell trails the field as grade three pupils Merrick McDonald, 9, Tonè Viljoen, 8, Daniel Lewis, 8, Rachel McKenzie, 9, and Will Van Der Starre, 8, try out the new all-weather running track.
RAIN, hail or shine — the kids at Warrnambool Primary School will be able to hit the track whenever they like.
The school yesterday officially opened its $3.2 million federal government funded open learning space, together with its new 300-metre synthetic running track.
The track was the brainchild of former PE teacher Gary Bell, who returned to his old stomping ground of 15 years for the occasion.
Mr Bell said the track would make a world of difference for the students.
“For me running is about attitude, not ability,” he said.
“It’s something they can do anytime. The benefit of the synthetic track is it supports the muscle joints.
“Having this track at Jamo, it’s available to them anytime.
“A lot of kids give up on running because they think they’re not the best.
“Running though isn’t about racing.”
Grade three pupil Will Van Der Starre, 9, said all the pupils loved the running track because it wasn’t slippery or dangerous.
“We use it in the morning to get our brains working,” he said.
School principal Peter Auchettl said the open learning space housed 177 pupils but was capable of accommodating more.
“It’s an open space so it flows onto other learning spaces,” he said.
Mr Auchettl said there were plans for landscaping at the back of the building which would include garden plots and citrus trees.
“We want to get to a point where the children can prepare food, know the calories that are in the food and then run on the track and know how far they have to run.
“The way we deliver education has changed.”
cquirk@standard.fairfax.com.au