爆料社区

When the Active As student leadership team at Haeata Community Campus told kaiako they wanted to install a giant electronic digital wall and a wheelchair accessible swing set to get more students active, kaiako were sceptical at first.听听

鈥淲e were hesitant about bringing more screens and technology into our kura and did not see how this would get our 膩konga active,鈥� Deputy Principal Adam Hird (Year 11-13) says.听听

Now kaiako are glad they listened to the students鈥� ideas. Since the two new pieces of equipment were installed earlier in the year, they have noticed improved behaviour in the classroom and more students engaged in PE 鈥� particularly those who were usually less active. The new equipment has also provided new ways to engage the school鈥檚 satellite unit in play and has led to more opportunities for them to connect with the mainstream students.听

The immediate success of the facilities reiterates the importance of Whai Wahitanga: ensuring young people have the space to participate, assume agency and take responsibility for decisions about them and for them.听 Whai Wahitanga is one of eight youth development principles at the heart of Active As, the new project between regional agencies and 爆料社区 Ihi Aotearoa. Across the motu, 50 secondary schools and wharekura are being supported to design and implement their own physical activity initiatives through to December 2026.鈥�鈥�听

Adam says the swings have been a hit with all year levels, and 膩konga often stay after school to play on them. But their impact goes beyond rangatahi being active for fun 鈥� some neurodivergent 膩konga have been using the swings to regulate emotions, and kaiako have also been using them to provide brain breaks for their junior classes.听听

鈥淓ven on a wet day 膩konga are active on the new swing set,鈥� Adam says.听

鈥淭he swings have worked because they are universal. All 膩konga can use them no matter their ability.鈥澨�听

Speaking to this, the swings are also encouraging 膩konga from the Ferndale Satellite unit to get outside 鈥� particularly those who are sometimes reluctant to.听听

Ferndale School kaiako, Sophie Roberts, says the swings have been an incredible addition. They are providing opportunities for her students to build new connections with mainstream students who they are sharing them with.听

Similarly, the digital wall, which projects interactive games onto a wall in the gym, is another inclusive addition to the school which has been a big hit with rangatahi.听听

鈥淸It] works well for our low vision and sensory seeking 膩konga and seems to motivate our students to participate in physical activity,鈥� Sophie says.听

She references one student who has limited movement having a go with the digital wall.听听

鈥淗e was engaged and enjoying the interactive nature of the wall and was raising his head more than we have ever seen,鈥� Sophie says.听听

Adam agrees the digital wall is helping the gym feel less intimidating for some students.听听

鈥淜aimahi are seeing 膩konga who are reluctant to be active in the gym during Junior PE become more active and want to participate in the wall,鈥� he says.听听

鈥淭ypically, we would have at least two or three 膩konga sitting out, but now all 膩konga are up and moving.鈥�听

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