Photo : Sharyn Smart
The Easter Bunny was noticeably absent at Moturoa School’s Easter egg hunt – he’d eaten too much chocolate.
Moturoa School was chosen by Mericales R tru Trust as the recipient of their annual Easter egg hunt.
“We know your school encourages healthy eating and Easter Bunny made unhealthy choices and had to stay home sick,” Mericales R tru Trust treasurer Mike Cole explained to the pupils before they began their hunt.
Mr Cole told the children a healthy diet included a balance of sensible eating and treats.
“Don’t sit down and eat all the eggs you get today at once or you will be sick like Easter bunny.”
On the teacher’s signal, the children rushed screaming and shouting to hunt for the coloured sticks, hard-boiled eggs and buttons hidden within their area of the school grounds.
“Here’s one,” said Nevaeh Allen, 5, from room 4 carefully carrying an egg.
Room 4’s Kaydence Allen, 7, squealed “I’ve got one, I’ve got one.”
They had brightly painted hard-boiled eggs which were inspired by Chairwoman, Mrs Alexandra Cole’s Greek heritage.
The 13 greek eggs represented the 13 letters of their trust’s name and when handed in to Mrs Cole special prize packs were awarded.
“We learnt from last year’s experience that chocolate overload was not good,” said Mrs Cole.
“We knew that Moturoa School promoted healthy eating and we themed our prizes accordingly.”
The main winner was 5-year-old Dupree Bidvis-Huntley who along with the 13 Greek egg winners collected prizes sponsored by YMCA, Westpac, New Plymouth Aquatic Centre, Taranaki Rugby and Tasman Toyota, Westown.
The children ended their day with a lolly scramble before heading home clutching paper bags full of chocolate and prizes.
Principal Martin Jordan said he couldn’t thank the Coles enough.
“Alexandra and Mike have just made Easter very special for these children.”
The Coles moved to New Plymouth in 2003 and not long after established the Mericales R tru Trust.
They now do three “mericales” a year – community Easter egg hunt, mid winter warm-up and Christmas “break and enter”.
For more information: Mericales r tru Trust
This article was published in the North Taranaki MidWeek on April 3, 2013