Year 3 and 4 have had an exciting and challenging three days of EOTC. We were so impressed with how well the children took on challenges, supported each other and worked together to achieve more than they could have individually.

On Tuesday we all went down to Narrow Neck and rotated through 4 activities. These included biking on the pump track, learning first aid, making bivvie shelters and a sand castle making competition. Every child participated in these activities and were able to push themselves to their level; we had some children learning how to ride a bike and others managing to make it safely down a gnarly looking ramp! We were very impressed with the variety of designs and structural ideas the groups had to build bivvies; some were more successful than others! Making the best looking mummy was a popular activity in first aid and Mr Offner was impressed with how well the kids managed to collaborate when making sand castles.

On Wednesday we had a day of activities at school which included a large collaborative game, some quiet mindfulness and sketching under the pohutakawa tree, and a technology challenge to build a boat that either held the most weight or sailed the fastest. There were some great designs but due to a lack of wind on the day of testing, we learnt that those with the biggest lungs and lightest boats tended to sail the fastest!

Thursday’s trip to Rangitoto was a highlight for most of us. It was a hot day, but all seventy Year 3 and 4 children not only made it to the top, but also got back to the ferry in one piece, a smile on their face and only one plaster handed out! We even managed to walk through about 20 metres of lava caves, but I feel sorry for the small insects in there as I can’t say it was a quiet experience! The children encouraged and supported each other up and down the mountain and they showed perseverance and persistence when they were hot and tired at the end of the day! One young man didn’t realise the consequences of packing volcanic rocks in his bag before setting off to climb a mountain. However, he somehow managed to have two different unsuspecting adults carry his bag for him! There was some talented persuasion going on there!

We are incredibly proud of every child’s effort on these days and we know that the children have a great sense of achievement.