The Prime Minister Comes To Bromley

Reporters: Sheldon and Helena

On Thursday the 22nd of February, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, came to visit Bromley School to announce mental health policy for Canterbury and Kaikōura children. It wasn't just Prime Minister Ardern, there were people from the government such as the Minister of Health, David Clark, and two well-known Christchurch MPs, Hon Megan Woods and Poto Williams.

Two of our Ariki leaders, Sheldon and Helena, got talk and introduce the Prime Minister and everyone that came. Some of the guests went to the library where Mandy and her coding group were working and to Pītau 1 to see what they were learning about.

Prime Minister Ardern came in a crown grey BMW. When she stepped out of the car, our Kapa Haka team welcomed her and her team. They did a wonderful job on such short notice.

 

Our Ariki then led Prime Minister Ardern to the staff room where she met Mr Kinley, some of our Board of Trustees members, parents, Wali the cat, and our lead teachers. She then spoke about the mental health care initiative.

Afterwards, the Prime Minister spoke to the media outside and some of the teachers and staff had photos with her before she left.

Mr Kinley says, “It was a fantastic day for Bromley School. Not only just to meet the Prime Minister in person and chat to her, as well as other very important Members of Parliament, but to hear about her announcement to support children in their mental health made this certainly a day to remember”.

We hope that initiatives like this really do benefit us children and we look forward to hosting more important guests who make important decisions about our future.

Beach Education Programme Makes A Splash

Reporters: Lucas and Kordae

In week 2 and 3 all of Pītau and Koru went to South Brighton Beach for Beach Education to learn many things.

They took part in many activities including everything the lifeguards had learned, a sand castle competition and going in the water.

The students were separated into 4 different groups to go around into four stations. On one of the stations they learned what the IRB is and that is an inflatable rescue boat that they use 70% of the time to rescue people.

Next is the medical equipment to help people that are unconscious or are having trouble to breathe. Another one was the inflatable rescue tube which they use 15% of the time to rescue people and finally is the knee boards, which they use another 15% to rescue people.

The sand castle competition that they participated in was a great event with working together very well with great designs with shells, sticks and dried up seaweed.

Finally the water time even though they didn’t have much time  they made the most of it with some huge waves chatting with their friends and having fun.

Mr Cron, who organised the event, said “I thought it was absolutely fantastic, the life guards related really well and children learnt important new safety issues involved with New Zealand beaches”.

Overall this was a great programme. Thanks to the lifeguards who ran it, as well as the teachers and parents for their support.