KERANG South Public School has received a $2000 grant from Bank First (formerly the Teachers Credit Union).
Shane Koelmeyer from the bank presented the school with the grant on September 1 through its Teaching Initiative Program, which provides grants to schools for innovative programs.
Kerang South was one of 20 lucky schools to receive the grant out of the 120 applicants that requested grants this year.
School principal Lyn Veall said the money would go towards two days of Indonesian workshops with Bagus Kan (Victoria’s leading Indonesian incursion provider), followed by a performance for families in Term 1 2024.
“Without the support of Bank First we wouldn’t be able to go ahead with the program,” Ms Veall said.
“Bank First is great at supporting primary schools.
“We just don’t have funding in the budget to do some of these things.
“Often with the tyranny of distance here the cost of the performer, the travel and accommodation, we just can’t afford that.
“It is really fortunate when we get a grant like this we can just book them and say ‘Come for two days’.
“They are going to do workshops with the kids where they’ll do dancing and musical instruments.
“These people come with all the authentic equipment and it gives the kids a chance to see what the instruments are like and what the dancing is like.
“At the end there is actually a performance so we can invite the families in and that gives a secondary benefit by bringing that community connection.
“We have been working really hard on that post-COVID.
“Having community events such as this encourages people to get to know each other.”
