On Tuesday, 11th February, Ihutai Te Kei went to North New Brighton beach to participate in their Beach Ed programme. This unique experience includes a tour of the clubhouse, beach and water activities, an opportunity to check out the rescue equipment and a full day of learning with 3 qualified lifeguards.

Throughout the day, our students learnt how to effectively identify and escape from rip currents, a crucial skill for anyone spending time in the ocean. In addition, participants are taught the fundamentals of safe and enjoyable ocean activities, creating a balance between excitement and safety.

We had a fantastic day out and I feel confident that our tamariki have more knowledge about how to stay safe at the beach that they can share with their whānau.

The Southern Centre is a small facility full of sensory exploration activities for students to enjoy and try. It is unique in it's ability to cater for a wide range of needs. Some of the highlights include the smell machine, bubble column, shadow wall, light show, UV light room, weighted animals, tactile pads, soundproof chairs, voice changer microphones and more - all aimed at stimulating an individual's senses through smell, touch, light and sound.