We had the most amazing day today.

As Learning Centre Joseph Assen, Jenni Markotsis, Anna Hay and myself worked as a larger group so kids got to focus on their interests.

Our kids looked at a variety of ways they could contribute to the community. It all seemed so huge with all their grand ideas and the paperwork and Health and Safety limitations that we had would have to conquer if they worked in groups of 10.

We invited Leigh from our local Mokoia Community Association to share the different things they are working on, on the community which led to the kids deciding to help with the development of the park upgrade down the road.

Leigh was amazing. She liaised with the Rotorua Council and ER@AP (Eastside Rangatahi @ the Park) who work closely with developing leadership skills and running activities in schools with our local kids.

ER@P provided the food for the sausage sizzle and supervised the kids cooking and serving. Infa Core brought in the plants and mulch and Leigh coordinated and provided the gazebos.

Our students were grouped to include at least 1 person from each of the job allocations. Each group had a Safety, Community Liaison. Logistics, Storyteller and Caterer etc so each had a specific responsibility that they took very seriously.

We spent from 11am to 2pm planting. The council staff (Infa Core) said they had worked with kids before but never worked with kids who worked so hard and so well. We were very proud of them.

The local paper came out and took photos and talked to a few kids as well as myself as Senior Teacher. The kids ended the afternoon by doing a haka on the new stage area at the park to than the workers and parents who helped them achieve their goal.

Thank you for the inspiration.

The kids are already talking about how they can’t wait for the park to reopen to go there with their families and how when they grow up they will bring their kids to the park and show them where they planted the trees.

Our kids shone today. We saw a new side to them as they worked together and showed pride and passion for the work they were doing.