What a year 2021 has been! We have been fortunate to have held several fun educational outings to benefit our students in the Bay of Plenty Central area.

Kia ora katoa

In Term 1, the Bay of Plenty teams attended the annual Lake Rotoma KIT Day where the Deaf and hard of hearing students had fun socialising and developing their skills in kayaking and using the stand-up paddle boards. It was evident that this outing supported their physical, social and emotional development and well-being.

An awesome learning experience was enjoyed by all at the Hamilton Zoo. The language and vocabulary around animals were made relevant through the sensory experiences of getting up close and personal with animals. The language and vocabulary around animals were followed up at the Language Day in Term 2.

In Term 3, the Bay of Plenty Central Team had students investigating volcanoes and related concepts with the goals of stirring curiosity, promoting positive behaviour and improving their matauranga and vocabulary. Fifteen Deaf and hard of hearing students from Rotorua, Reporoa and Taupō visited Wairakei Primary School for the Language Day - a follow-on activity from the Duck boat Tour of Lake Tarawera. The Language Day was made more enjoyable with local stories and hands-on activities provided by Matua Benoir and Whaea Anne-Marie.