Ascot State School, with the help of the community, has completed a year-long project transforming the girl’s bathroom from a plain old building into a fantasy wonderland.
“I found out that some of the girls were a bit afraid about going to the toilet because it’s a bit dark and scary. They were reluctant to go at all during the day, and I thought we can’t have this; we’ve got to do something to make the area welcoming and safe,” Principal Deb Cox said.
“The bathroom was dark. It was just like grey walls. There were little kids that thought there were ghosts in there,” a Year Six student said.
The revitalisation quickly became a project for the whole community, with the Rotary Club of Hamilton donating $20,000 towards the project, wooden furnishings made by the Northshore Men’s Shed, and other community members and businesses also getting involved.
The school’s art teacher Ms Byres, and her colleague Ms Henschke, spearheaded the project, beginning with a vibrant mural painted across the outer wall of the bathroom.
The mural has since grown to include handmade porcelain flowers created by the students.
“Each class created one piece of the mural, whether it be a flower or a leaf or glazing and creating,” Ms Byres said.
Additional contributions came from the community, including wooden furnishings made by the Northshore Men’s Shed and a wealth of plants.
“The main thing I think has been the sense of connection and belonging that comes when kids are involved in helping design spaces. With the community connections, parent volunteers, and donations, everyone’s contributed to make something special happen,” Ms Cox said.
With the project now complete, the students have embraced their new space with joy and excitement.
