Making good decisions - and having fun!

On a wet March morning the Year 12 Physical Education classes got themselves out of bed at dawn and made their way to the beautiful Wainui. As the coach reached the crest of the summit road, the sun rose over the hills winding down towards Akaroa Harbour.
The Social Responsibility Unit aims to challenge pupils to make good decisions whilst supporting their peers in activities and environments that are challenging and unfamiliar. As the first group entered the boat yard overlooking rolling waves coming into the moody looking bay, they were presented with a limited range of materials to create a seaworthy craft to carry them across the bay. As leaders emerged, and resilience was tested between tightening ropes and persistent rain, surprisingly the loudest noise was that of celebrated victories and passionate debate. The groups rose to the occasion and the crafts were deemed suitable by the instructors to keep their passengers safe and relatively dry.
The afternoon session was Coasteering, which was met with gentle caution as the wetsuits, helmets and lifejackets were handed out. This caution turned to hysterical laughter as pupils lost their grip on the rope that ran along what was once a path and now a giant mudslide down to the coastline. Everybody arrived safely to the beach below, though their black wetsuits were now two tone with the thick red mud. As the groups surveyed the rugged coastline it quickly became clear that the image of gently plodding along with a map and compass that "Coasteering" may have conjured, couldn't be further from the truth.
Every pupil was tasked with the safety of those in front and behind them whilst climbing over barnacle-covered rocks, wading through lapping waves and eventually reaching an impassable gap filled with surging seawater. The shock was still visible on the pupils' (and this teacher's) face even as the instructor resurfaced from demonstrating a safe entry into deep water. Each pupil supported the next "diver" as they shuffled towards the edge of the rock and proceeded to jump into the dark depths below.
With the initial apprehensions well and truly washed away and the adrenalin flowing the pupils proceeded to take on loftier and more challenging jumps and swims over the 3 hours before making their way back to the steep climb and returning to the luxury showers. This took the form of a cold hose down, operated by their caring teachers whose smiles were only partially hidden by their face masks.
As the coach made its way back to Waimairi iri and stories of the day's excitement faded, the pupils began to sleep, much like the ancient volcano that once formed the hills that they and the sun retreated behind. Ngā mihi

Sam Manners

Assistant HOF - PE