The Oamaru school installed a covering over its basketball and netball courts last week.
Principal Ryan Fraser said the structure would be multipurpose as it not only allowed the year-round use of the courts, but also a space to hold school-wide gatherings.
"For the last nine or 10 years, we haven't been able to do that. We have our assemblies out on the deck but it’s just not ideal.
"As soon as it rains, we can’t do it or we have the sun shining in kids’ eyes. It’s just not an ideal space to come together."
There is no hall at the school and their previous indoor space, an open-plan classroom, was divided into two additional classrooms to accommodate an increase in the school roll, Mr Fraser said.
"The community then got together and decided to try to raise some funds to build or create some space where they could come together."
However, the Ministry of Education would not allow the school to build a hall because it was a "capital project and the upkeep would be left to them in the long run", Mr Fraser said.
"So there was a bit of money there and we started thinking about other options. In the end, we decided on an outdoor structure like this."
While he could not disclose the total cost for the structure, Mr Fraser said most of the money came from fundraising by the home and school committee as well as multiple community grants.
The structure would be invaluable during the colder months of the year, he said.
"We’ll never have to have an indoor playing time again. If it’s raining, the kids can get outside."
Many of the contractors involved in its construction have children attending or had children attending the school previously.
"What I’m really proud is that it’s a real community thing, an Ardgowan School community thing, which is quite special."
The school used the structure to hold its end-of-year prizegiving on Wednesday.
