Dress-up fun at Awapuni School

Griffin Main was unmistakeable as Sesame Street resident grump, Oscar the Grouch, at the Awapuni School book character day.

Barbie, zombies and Oscar the Grouch were just some of the characters who showed up  at Awapuni School last Thursday. It was the annual event where students are asked to come dressed as their favourite book character.

“We try to coincide the day with the New Zealand  Book Awards for Children and Young Adults,” said Sapphire Hawes, Awapuni School’s librarian.

Thursday was the day the award winners were announced.

Paper Plus Gisborne was the sponsor for this year, donating books for prizes with the top prizes going to the student whose costume was most like their book character.

This year the Awapuni early learning preschool children were also invited to take part.  In total, over 200 students joined in for the fun of the day.

Three locals put on their judging hats to hand out the prizes  —  Awapuni School IT man Tony Scragg, community police officer Sam Cairns and Paper Plus owner and manager Anita Kingston.

Whānau were also invited to dress up, and Miss Hawes said there was such a good turn out “that we almost needed more prizes !”