Schools Section

Thousands of children in New Zealand often don't get to school because they are missing out on the basics most of us take for granted. If kids are cold, wet and hungry, when they get to school they can't learn! KidsCan Standtall have made it their mission to enable these disadvantaged children get to school warm, dry and have the option to be fed while at school.

KidsCan StandTall in schools

Right now KidsCan StandTall helps over 25,000 children in low decile schools across New Zealand by providing raincoats, food and shoes. With these basic items, it then enables these kids to focus on the important job of learning so they may reach their full potential. Sadly there are now 131 schools on the KidsCan StandTall waiting list, which is growing weekly. These schools urgently need support. Money raised through The 'Big Night In' will go towards reducing the waiting list so that many more children can get the most out of their education

Schools helping schools

We are inviting all principals, teachers and students who wish to get involved in The 'Big Night In'. We're looking for schools to get excited and involved and do something ‘BIG' to raise money for The 'Big Night In'. Schools can really help us and whether you are a KidsCan StandTall partner school or not Big Night In would love your help! Come on prove your school is the biggest craziest and best at fund raising!

We've got heaps of fun and wacky ideas for schools to get involved to raise loads of money for The 'Big Night In', but we challenge you to come up with some ideas of your own, in return we we'll put the biggest, craziest activities on this site and your school may also be chosen to be on TV. Stay tuned to this page for any updates. We are quietly confident that schools can do BIG things for The 'Big Night In' so get your thinking caps on and start planning! To make life easier download the 'Big Night In' official sponsorship form. This form will let your sponsors know what you're up to, when you're doing it and where. Get as many people to sponsor you as you can and remember to have fun doing it!

Fundraising Ideas

• Hold a readathon, a spellathon or a knowledgeathon! Get all your pupils together and hold an ‘athon'! Why not include a teacher or parent to see if they are smarter or not! Invite parents and family along and charge a gold coin to attend the ‘athon' taking place.

• The BIG bazaar mufti day - The kids love to get dressed up, why not make it a bit different; maybe wear their PJ's, a silly hat, their favorite superhero or celebrity. Even more fun if the teachers get involved and get dressed up as well. Charge a gold coin, and donate to "The Big Night In"

• The BIG talent show - there is nothing more fun than seeing your class mates dance your teachers singing or performing silly skits. Best still the school principal doing a stand up and telling jokes! Sell tickets to parents and the community to come along and watch! Kids always find it hysterical to watch their teachers being funny and silly. Lots of fun and at the same time you're raising money for a fabulous cause.

• The BIG cake sale - Ask everyone to bring in a yummy cake or some homemade biscuits and then sell them at morning tea.

• Build something BIG. Think the L&P bottle in Paeroa or the Carrot in Ohakune. What represents your town, your suburb? Or even your school? Build it, take some pictures and send it in to us we'll do our best to show the best ones on The 'Big Night In'.

• The BIG social - Give the children a chance to dress up, put their glad rags on and dance the night away with all their school mates. Charge a gold coin to attend. Sell light refreshments you could even charge the parents to be a chaperone.

• The BIG help the community day! Children from school go into a place of work and get paid for their work. Not only does the community benefit, it's a great exposure for the kids and they get the satisfaction of earning their own money, and the joy of donating what they worked hard for!

• The BIG market day - Have all the kids either bring in items from home, or bring out the entrepreneur in them and let then create their own product or service. Whether its face painting, selling paper planes or stress balloon men. Preparing delicious cool lemonade or handmade jewelry, whatever takes their fancy? Advertise to your local community and let them enjoy the children's creations.

• The BIG Kiwi favourite but "a goodie" - The Kiwi sausage sizzle! Get a group of dads to cook and sell sausages to the community with all proceeds going to The 'Big Night In'! Don't let your imagination end there! What else could you sizzle??

• The BIG raffle. Get some community groups behind you to put together a basket or group of items for a raffle. Raffle them at the community library or somewhere they will let you sell tickets! Every dollar helps children in need!

• The BIG sticky fly on the wall! - Thought we'd shake things up a bit and put this wacky idea in. You will need a teacher with a great sense of humor to volunteer, and several large rolls of duct tape. The teacher simply stands on a chair with their back up against a wall (somewhere where everyone gets a great view of them!) Sell meter sections of tape, which is used to tape the teacher to the wall. Once all the tape is all sold remove the chair and time how long they remain stuck! Why not also run a sweepstake before hand for a small fee, to guess how long they will stay up! Imagine if you have several teachers being a sticky fly on the wall, see who can stay up the longest. For safety you may want to place a couple of swabs beneath them, to cushion the fall!

• The BIG kid's cookbook - Purchase a large bound scrapbook and let each class choose several of their favorite recipes. Record them in the book along with colourful illustrations. Display it in the school reception then auction off to the highest bidder!

• The BIG jellybean count - We all have had a guess at these in the past! Fill a large jar with jellybeans. Charge to guess how many jellybeans are in the jar. The winner gets the jellybeans! The proceeds get donated to "Big Night In!"

• The BIG gratitude tree - The idea is to find a suitable tree, either dig out the artificial Christmas tree or use a tree growing on the school grounds. Get the children to design a decorated card to hang from the tree. Sell the cards to the students, parent's friends and family. Each card has a place to write what you're grateful for, hang on the tree for everyone to enjoy and reflect.

• The BIG goofy Olympics day - This one is a favorite school activity from yesteryear. The obstacle course, the three legged race, not forgetting the sac race and tug of war! Get out on the school fields and invite the children's families along. Set up light refreshments stand; or ask the parents to bake for a cake stand. Get the Mums and Dads involved in races and charge a donation fee. It's about having fun enjoying time with school mate's teachers and parents, while supporting a fabulous cause.

• The BIG Quiz night - But wait ... With a twist, how brainy are your teachers? Imagine Staff Vs Staff. Math's Department Vs English Department! Set up the teams of teachers in your hall. How cool would it be if the students get to contribute towards the questions then host the event and ask the questions! Sell tickets to student's family and friends, and see how smart the teachers really are!

• The BIG fun fashion show! Go crazy! Dress up as ridiculous fashion statements! Pirate crossed with a ballet dancer! The renaissance, rugby player? Pay to enter then hold a fashion show The audience donates to vote a winner!