Warwick Academy staff and students donned blue noses yesterday to mark the launch of a new fundraising campaign.

In addition to bolstering the school’s bursary programme, the school is looking to erect a new playground and transform its Harbour Road dock into a marine science facility.

Jane Vickers, director of development for the school, said “Blue Nose Day” represents the start of the school’s annual giving campaign and was timed to celebrate the international Giving Tuesday effort.

“We will continue to fundraise until the end of our financial year, which is July 1,” Ms Vickers said.

“We have a fantastic PTA who will be helping with events and we are hoping that our alumni, parents and friends of the school will see what a unique opportunity we have to enrich the lives of the children and donate to make these three areas a reality.”

Ms Vickers said the fundraising effort will support three “pillars”, including the bursary programme.

“We have an ever-increasing need for bursary money, which are funds that help keep our students together as a Warwick family,” she said.

“Life happens and often life circumstances have a direct financial effect on families, so these funds help our students stay here at Warwick when parents struggle to pay the fees.

“At times of stress it is so important that the children can continue with their friends and in an environment that is safe and help them reach their full academic potential.”

The campaign will also support developing a marine science facility at the school’s dock, which Ms Vickers said has deteriorated over the years. “As our science and robotics programme grows from strength to strength, we felt it is important for our students to be able to take advantage of our dock,” she said.

“As the only school in Bermuda to have waterfront property, we also want to be able to share this with other schools in Bermuda as it is a rare opportunity to be able to have a Marine Science Facility.

“The facility will allow students to conduct experiments and it will enhance the curriculum.”

Ms Vickers said the school is already in talks with the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and conservationist David Wingate about ways to promote “citizen science” and long-term studies of Hamilton Harbour.

“By creating this we will increase the students’ love of the Bermuda environment, understanding and passion for marine science and respect for the beautiful ocean that surrounds us,” she said.

The school is also looking to use the fundraising effort to help fund a new playground for primary students.

Ms Vickers said: “We do have one on the field currently nearing the end of its lifespan, having been installed in 2002, and we need to replace it.

“We had the students vote on three options so we had their buy-in and, at the end of the day, it is them playing on it not us.”

Ms Vickers said the votes were tallied yesterday morning, with the students preferring the nautically designed “Swagger Shipyard”.

“The size of the playground and what pieces we can buy will directly depend on how much money we raise,” she said.