📽️ Big Bounce Day brings big smiles
Barberton Primary pupils swapped the classroom for a day of bouncing, sliding, climbing, splashing and racing at the school's annual Big Bounce Day.
There was no sitting quietly behind desks at Laerskool Barberton Primary last Friday. Instead, the school sports field at Bouwer Park were filled with bouncing, splashing, climbing, racing and plenty of laughter as pupils traded their school uniforms for a day of fun at the annual Big Bounce Day.
Normal school was cancelled for the day, much to the delight of the pupils, who arrived ready to make the most of every minute. The event was held to raise much-needed funds for the school, but for the children, the day was all about having fun. Even parents took a day off from work to watch their children enjoy themselves, adding to the cheerful, family-friendly atmosphere.
The weather also played along. Despite rain being forecast, the clouds kept their water to themselves and the pupils were able to enjoy the activities on offer. Later, however, the wind started to pick up, forcing some vendors to pack away their gazebos before the gusts became too troublesome.
There was another unexpected challenge before the day even started. Big Bounce had to cancel its participation the day before the event after its large inflatable suffered unforeseen damage at a previous engagement. With the much-anticipated attraction suddenly unavailable, the organisers had to think fast. A plan was quickly put together and a variety of other bouncing attractions arrived in time for the big day.
As it turned out, the change of plans may have worked in everyone's favour. Instead of having one enormous Big Bounce attraction dominating the school grounds, pupils were treated to a much wider variety of activities. By the end of the day, many were saying they preferred having so many different things to choose from.
There was certainly no shortage of choice. Bouncing castles and slides provided plenty of opportunities to work up a sweat, while climbing walls challenged those looking to reach new heights. Water activities offered a welcome way to cool down, and the obstacle course tested speed, agility and determination. For those who fancied something a little different, there was Catch-a-Coke and the ever-popular go-karts, which added a dash of speed to the day's entertainment.
The pupils were not the only ones prepared to get involved. A few brave teachers also put aside their usual roles and joined in the fun, much to the amusement of their learners.
Of course, no school fun day would be complete without food and shopping. A variety of vendors set up stalls offering treats, food and all sorts of tempting paraphernalia guaranteed to catch the attention of young shoppers. With so much happening, there was little chance of anyone complaining about being bored.
While the primary purpose of Big Bounce Day was to raise funds for Laerskool Barberton Primary, it became much more than a fundraising event. It gave pupils a chance to let their hair down, spend time with friends and simply enjoy being children. For the teachers, it was an opportunity to see their learners in a completely different environment. For parents, it was a chance to share in the excitement and watch their children having a ball.
The pupils got to spend an entire school day bouncing, sliding, climbing, splashing and racing instead of doing schoolwork. It is probably safe to say that nobody was rushing to get back into the classroom.
With the unexpected change in plans bringing an even greater variety of attractions, Laerskool Barberton Primary's Big Bounce Day delivered exactly what its name promised: big bounces, big laughs and even bigger smiles.
Anchen Coetzee
Liz Thorne
Mariana Balt
Naomi Roebert
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