School Camps

Fishing on the wharf

School camps are upon us, with Room 4 having returned today from three days and two nights at Te Kauri Lodge, and Room 1 having left today for their overnight stay at Te Kauri. It never ceases to amaze me that parents here at Kio Kio School are able to support their children in learning opportunities in such numbers. Without this level of support we would not be able to run camps and trips, nor would we enjoy such wonderful opportunities as those offered by Agricultural day, Swimming Sports, Triathlons and the like. We are really lucky, our students have parents and extended family members who are right behind them and go the extra mile for them... 
go parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents!

Time for some wonderful home baking

Added to this is the great team of dedicated adults who are the staff of Kio Kio School. Camps are always a time when teachers have to put their personal lives on hold for the duration of the camp, and for days on either side. They do this because they believe in the power of EOTC, Education Outside the Classroom. It is a proud tradition here at Kio Kio School, and in an age where many schools no longer have outdoor experiences on offer like a camp (cost and safety issues are the big barriers), we are keen to maintain these opportunities. 
                                                      

Ready to visit the museum

The home-school partnership is a vital one, and it is when visiting a school camp, as I had the privilege to do yesterday, that I am reminded about just 
how strong the partnership is here. 


Thank you Team Kio Kio.!

Life before CD's!

Returning on the ferry from Te Maika

Empathy

I am reminded of the wonderful Cherokee quote: "Grant that I may never find fault with my neighbor until I have walked the trail of life in his moccasins." As adults we all like to think we are empathetic, we can place ourselves in the shoes of others. I have learned from life's experiences that the best empathy develops when you have experienced walking in similar shoes. However, it is not always possible to have experienced the same challenges a friend might have, and at best we need to be able to be empathetic without judgement! 


This is where children have it over us- they are often able to see aspects of the world through the eyes of other children, and the lenses they use are often  more open and  less affected by judgement. They accept on face value what they see. We can learn great lessons from how they deal with the world. 


I see wonderful examples of empathy here at Kio Kio School, sometimes at the most unlikely times. Students who quite intuitively and without judgement are fully inclusive of all students in play activities. Students who fundraised for a 'fun event' and gave away their fundraising for moral purpose, to help someone who was in need. Students who seem to have eyes everywhere and spot those in need of a friendly smile or a helping hand. 


Empathy requires respect, and empathy builds citizenship.  This is about Whakatangata, playing the game of life.