Bay of Plenty schools have two weeks left to register to claim their share of $500,000 worth of sports or art equipment.

Schools are being encouraged to apply for funding for sports equipment and art supplies.

The Meadow Fresh ‘Cool Our School' promotion gives primary and intermediate schools the chance to apply for extra funding.

Last year, Christchurch's Spreydon School received $3000 worth of new sports equipment.

Deputy principal Andrea Hodges says the school's entry was organised by its student-led health team, and incentives were offered to classes to encourage collection of the stickers.

'Thanks to the effort everyone put into the Meadow Fresh sticker collection, every classroom now has its own netball, rugby ball and patter tennis set.

'For physical education skills training, the school now has enough good quality basketballs for every child in the class. We have lots of active students at lunchtime now we have plenty of new sports gear.”

To take part in the giveaway this year, primary and intermediate schools must register at www.meadowfresh.co.nz before August 31.

Meadow Fresh marketing manager Laurie Piggott says last year many schools encouraged both their students and the wider school community to collect the stickers from specially-marked Meadow Fresh yoghurt and dairy food packs, desserts, cream and milk.

'We heard a number of schools had students' grandparents and other family members collecting the stickers for them, which really helped increase their tally.

'Another idea would be for parents to put sticker charts up in their workplace lunchrooms to collect colleagues' stickers.

She says almost 1000 schools took part in the giveaway in 2012, so 285,000 kiwi kids were able to make use of more than 200,000 pieces of sports equipment or art supplies at school.

'This year we've increased the number of Meadow Fresh products carrying the collectable ‘Cool Our Schools' stickers attached, so there are even more opportunities for schools to update their sports and art gear.”
Laurie says, as an added bonus this year, there is also the chance to win instant prizes of $250 for the purchaser and $500 for their school on specially marked two litre Meadow Fresh milks.

The ‘Cool Our Schools' promotion runs until September 27.