Class trip raises spirits after Cyclone Gabrielle

Wairoa College students enjoyed a three-day break in Rotorua. Amid the treetops are, from left, head of English Margaux Scott, De-Ellah Waihaki, Zoe Clark, PJ Johnson, Rongomai Kahukura, Nixon Emanuel and Josh Beale. In front are Steph and Emma from Rotorua Canopy Tours. Picture supplied

A  school trip to Rotorua for a Year 11 class from Wairoa College was a chance to experience some joy after the devastating impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.

College head of English Margaux Scott said that after a challenging start to the year, the class trip away was exactly what was needed to help lift spirits.

“It was great to see the students being kids againand having fun. This is something they haven’t been able to do much of due to Covid-19 and the cyclone,” Ms Scott said.

Wairoa was hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle, causing millions of dollars worth of damage and leaving many people displaced from their homes.

“Cyclone Gabrielle rocked our community in a way that will continue to be felt for a long time,” Ms Scott said.

“Our school was forced to shut for over two weeks and this has put a huge stress on not only the students’ education but also their lives.

“It felt great to give them a trip to look forward to — even if it still involved a little homework.”

The class trip came about after Mrs Scott opened the floor to her Year 11 English class, assigning them to write a speech on a topic of their choice. When one student seized the opportunity to pitch the necessity of a trip away, this idea became a whirlwind of organisation that resulted in a three-day getaway for the 14-strong class.

With education at the forefront, the trip aimed to be not only an enjoyable getaway of new experiences but also a learning opportunity for the students.

It’s a balance that Rotorua Canopy Tours general manager, Paul Button, is very familiar with.

With a long history of working with schools to offer conservation workshops, walking tours, and zipline experiences, Mr Button was pleased to host Wairoa College, free of charge.

“Not many places have been affected as badly as Wairoa. It’s been hard to hear about the constant disruptions they’ve been having over there, and we wanted to help out our neighbours the best way we know how,” Mr Button said.

“We are experts in entertainment here in Rotorua. There’s no better escape than soaring through one of Aotearoa’s ancient forests.”

The Year 11 class took part in the canopy tour, which included educational activities, learning about the Canopy Conservation Project, and having some well-earned fun.

This experience was recently named the top nature experience in the South Pacific.

“Our students are resilient, resourceful, and mature beyond their years, having experienced hard times that have forced them to grow up quickly,” says Ms Scott.

“The main goal of this trip was to reignite their enthusiasm and enjoyment for education while letting off some steam.”

Across their three-day trip, the class also enjoyed the Redwoods Nightlights Treewalk, geothermal parks, and local marae visits in their itinerary.

During their trip, students were tasked with NCEA assignments ranging between creative writing pieces, Te Reo writing assessments and photography boards to showcase what they learned.