Gracemount Primary celebrates 60 years as parents and staff raise funds for community

Gracemount Primary School has celebrated its 60th anniversary as parents and staff raise money to support the local community.

The PTA and Parent Council have been providing meals, a foodbank and teaching supplies to children of the school and others in the community during lockdown.

They have now set up an online fundraiser to support this activity.

Paul from P5 with his homemade birthday card.

The school car park is open every weekday for locals to collect what they need while observing social distancing.

On Wednesday those assembled also celebrated the 60th anniversary of the school’s foundation.

Around 150 packed lunches and 2000 pre-cooked meals are given out each day, along with other food supplies.

Parents and staff members are working with Social Bite and FareShare, and have provided teaching materials from their own supplies.

They now need more funding to purchase additional stationary as well as toiletries, and set up the online GoFundMe page in response to people asking how they could support the initiative.

“We knew there was need for something like this, with a lot of people furloughed or in difficult situations,” said headteacher Greg Dimeck.

“It’s been an amazing community initiative, not just a school initiative. The Pupil Support Officers Amanda Farmer and Michelle Wright have been the brains behind the operation, and worked through the school holidays to support the kids.”