Amellia budgets for schools iPads

MANY people would remember saving their pennies with the Commonwealth Bank's school scheme but not many can say their savings earned their school 10 iPads - Biloela State School student Amellia Pitt can.

As part of their centenary celebrations, the Commonwealth Bank held an Australia wide competition to find Australia's Best School Banking Saver.

Modest Amellia came second.

"I won all the Dollarmites figurines and movie passes," Amellia said.

"And I won 10 iPads for the school and lots of money for my class to go on an excursion.

"I had to go on the internet and type what I loved with my banking.

"I said I love doing my banking and putting money in my platybank."

The win came as a shock to Amellia when it was announced on parade.

Mum Mellisa was just as surprised.

"She had come to me and said 'mum I want to enter it and do something for the school' and I said 'go for it'.

"But I never thought she would get this far."

Amellia said all her friends and teachers had reacted the same way.

"They just all say 'you are awesome!'."

Biloela Primary School principal Matt Sahlqvist said the iPads would add to the school's growing number of five plus a recent P&C purchase of 10 more.

"So that's a couple per class which is amazing," Mr Sahlqvist said.

"This means the students can engage with technology a lot easier and more efficiently."

Mr Sahlqvist said the school's main focus for the iPads would be on reading and maths.

As for Amellia's saving she has her eye on something very special.

"I am thinking about getting a hand ball."