Last week, our Year 8 students took part in the Waterwise programme. This aims to teach children how to be safe on and in the water.

The students had a packed day of sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, windsailing and kayaking. Head Student, Isabelle, wrote about her experience:

Waterwise at Orakei Basin was such an exciting and memorable experience, especially being out on the water for the whole day. We had the opportunity to try sailing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and windsurfing which all challenged us in different ways. 

The weather and wind conditions meant we had to stay focused and adapt quickly, particularly in sailing and windsurfing. Stand-up paddle boarding really tested our balance, while kayaking tested our rhythm. It was amazing to build confidence while learning new skills in a real outdoor environment. 

Overall, the experience strengthened resilience, leadership and the ability to stay positive even when things didn’t go as planned.