Collaboration, Communication, Critical-Thinking & Kick-Flips.

Rāroa Normal Intermediate is introducing skateboarding lessons in Term 1 to help engage students in learning key life skills while pursuing a fun and highly physical activity.  The popularity of skateboarding is highlighted by the number of students who have opted into the lessons. While we anticipated around 30 students would be interested, we are thrilled to have 150 students signed up to start from next week!

Learning to skateboard helps children to focus on personal progress by providing an engaging, action-centred, non-judgemental learning context driven by a “challenge by choice” learning philosophy. Skateboarders learn to collaborate and apply critical-thinking skills, problem-solving and communication skills as they work out the mechanics of a particular skateboard trick. In short, it’s a fantastic activity for young people, teaching them key life-skills in the process of learning something cool.

Rāroa is partnering with OnBoard Skate school to run a skateboarding programme in Term 1. We have also been fortunate to gain partial funding through Sport Wellington for the programme, which included the supply of skate ramps, grind-boxes and rails. These elements add an appropriate level of challenge for when students are ready to progress.