Our school was fortunate to be chosen to host the first Police Blue Light EDGE Programme(Educate, Develop, Grow, Empower) to be held in South Canterbury.

Twelve hardy students from Years 11–13 were selected to participate in this boot camp style programme that ran over six weeks to Educate, Develop, Grow and Empower (EDGE). Physical fitness was an important part of the programme given the final challenge, but so too were aspects of policing, leadership and citizenship.

Police staff run the sessions with the students, exposing them to various specialist groups and divisions within the force such as the Armed Offenders Squad, Search and Rescue, Police Negotiation Team, Dog Squad and CIB.

Twelve sessions were held over six weeks before school on a Tuesday and Thursday from 6am-8am, followed by a cooked breakfast.

The final challenge was a Longest Day challenge that involved running and cycling from Mount Cook to Caroline Bay. This required a huge effort and was a challenge all the boys rose to and conquered.

All of the young men who participated developed tremendously during this programme and grew immensely in stature.

Congratulations to Xaden Stringer, Darian Dysart, Alvin Sutedja, Taniela Koloa, Peter Tafunaina, Tafu Tafunaina, Jack Miles, Rhyan Mitchell, Sio Latu, Andrew Perkins, Will Lyle and Campbell Plows.

Our thanks must go to the tremendous efforts of the Timaru Police especially organisers Const. Joe Rush, Const. Hinemoa McMahan, Const. Jan Gibb, Senior Const. Micky Donaldson, Senior Const. Kevin Grant, Sgt Geoff McCrostie, Senior Sgt Dylan Murray, Tracey Hooke and Sharon Gibson.