Loud squeals of delight could be heard from kilometres away on April 2. A school’s back field went from green to kaleidoscopic – and students’ faces lit up brighter than the hues of powdered colours being puffed from bottles.

About 500 Katikati Primary students had the time of their lives at their school’s first Colour Fun Run Day on the last day of Term 1, raising both children’s spirits and a chunk of funds for the kura.

About 20 volunteers arrived at 8am to set up the obstacle course, which had a pre-race dance area, waterslide entrance, tyre step, slime pool, pool noodle jumps, cone maze, hurdles, limbo, cargo net crawls and streamer-lined finish line.

The fun began 11.40am as students flowed through the course in age groups to a background of lively, dance music.

Teacher Kirsty Graveson colouring students as they navigate the cargo net. Photo / Merle Cave

Teachers and parent volunteers dotted the course armed with colour bottles puffing hues onto students’ T-shirts, while Katikati Volunteer Fire Brigade firefighters got the fire hose out and food trucks and a coffee cart offered food for sale.

The day ended with a pre-determined – voted by the students – sliming of two teachers. The unfortunate souls were whaea Karen Cross and Jennie McKeown, who were slimed by principal Andrea Nicholson helped by teacher Ashlee Roche in front of the students.

Hosted by KKPS Parents of the School (Pots) group, students were sent home early in Term 1 with a permission slip and a guide to create their own online fundraising page to raise funds for the school by taking part.

Afterwards students could order prizes depending on the amount of funds they raised or donate the value of their prize to charity.

Pots president Emma Gillespie said the day had raised $22,275.17 and after the fundraising company took 40%, left $13,365.10 to put back into the school.

“We cannot yet say what the funds will be used for – but watch this space.”

Gillespie said she was blown away by how much was raised and the fundraising efforts of the children and their whānau.

“Roughly half of the school’s students created online fundraising pages - and three of those children opted to donate the value of their prize to Forest & Bird.”

The first leg of the run was a water slide. Photo / Kim Buyn

The highest amount raised came from Room 3 student Quinn Arrow, with $1250.

The classroom that raised the most was Room 3, where 17 students created individual fundraising pages and raised a total of $2675.

Gillespie said Pots had chosen this type of fundraiser because they thought it would be a good money-earner for the school.

“Pots had wanted to hold a colour run for a number of years and the company we worked with was helpful. They supplied us with all the information on how to run it, promotional templates and we even had an online fundraising coach we could call on.

“We also liked that we could use our school’s back field for the event, and our PE equipment for the obstacle course.”

Gillespie said Pots thanked all of the volunteers, Katikati Volunteer Fire Brigade, food trucks, teachers and whānau that helped with the event.

“It turned out to be an amazing community event full of fun and laughter.”

Gillespie said Pots saw merit in running the fundraiser again. “We are hoping to make it an annual event to raise funds for the school.”