School swaps uniforms for pyjamas

Published 4:00pm 21 July 2023

Instead of wearing their school uniforms on Friday, students from Hercules Road State School rocked up to their classrooms wearing their favourite pyjamas and dressing gowns.

It wasn’t out of laziness or because they forgot to get dressed, but rather a fun way to help raise funds for the Pyjama Foundation’s annual fundraising event – Pyjama Day.

The annual event encourages schools, businesses and individuals across the country to wear their comfiest pyjamas for the day to help raise money for the Foundation’s Love of Learning Program, which is offered to children in foster care.

Every dollar raised will go directly towards supporting the Foundation to recruit, screen and train committed volunteers known as Pyjama Angels - dedicated volunteers who spend an hour a week with a child living in care to help improve their literacy and numeracy skills.

For teacher Caitlin Parks, it is a cause close to her heart.

“I am actually a Pyjama Angel myself, so I went through the training a few years ago,” Cailtin says.

“I have worked with two children now, and I go once a week to read a story, do homework and play some educational games to help instill a love of learning.

“Being a Pyjama Angel is all about providing that child in care with another person in their life who is going to be their little cheerleader.”

To see more photos of the kids in class 1A, click through the gallery below.

About the Pyjama Foundation

The Pyjama Foundation was founded in 2004 to give children in foster care the opportunity to change the direction of their lives with learning, life skills, and confidence.

Alarmed at the statistics highlighting poor literacy and numeracy levels of children in care, and how this contributes to a lifetime of disadvantage, founder Bronwyn Sheehan OAM made the decision to offer hope and a more positive outlook for these children.

Through the Love of Learning program, more than 1200 children are supported each week.

During this time, strong bonds and friendships are developed between the child and the Pyjama Angel, to help the child realise they are valued and loved.