Future leaders

Waiheke + 16 students + three days = an unforgettable experience, tons of experiences, and nooooooo showers!!!

Recently, a group of year 13 Penrose High School student leaders returned to school, having just completed an amazing leadership camp on Waiheke Island.

Full of enthusiasm and with a new realisation of what it means to be a leader, the group of young adults are now ready to face the year with a new confidence in their ability to carry out their responsibilities of being student leaders.

The 16 students that attended the camp make up the school’s Peer Supporters Class. This class, led by form teachers Mr Fransham and Mr Langdon, also includes the school’s head students.

The class was set up with the prime objective of letting senior students take part in creating a happy, caring environment at the school.

All students in the school are catered for, but special attention is given to the junior members of the school to help them feel welcome and assist them to become part of the school’s ethos.

Peer Support students are given on-going help and advice throughout the year to enable them to carry out their duties competently.

However, a major part of the training is to attend this camp on Waiheke Island where they are taught how to get the best out of others, and are encouraged to really find out about, and understand themselves, and each other.

As Thomas Rolleston, (one of the students) says: “We left as friends but came back as brothers and sisters.”

On Waiheke Island the class stayed at the Otakawhe Bay Lodge. The building was a very old fashioned villa built during the early 1900’s.

The students were transported back in time with the most strikingly beautiful chandeliers hanging from the tall ceilings and the most amazing artwork displayed around the walls.

During their time there they were given a presentation on ‘Leadership and Personality’. The presenters, Sue and Clare informed them that there were four types of leaders, and everyone fits into one of the categories whether you are an extrovert or an introvert.

They were also told that leadership can also be associated with animal characteristics; for example, a planner can be referred to as a beaver.

Mr Ropati, the school’s principal, also stayed with them at the camp, and gave the students a presentation on ‘the Importance of Trust in a Leader’.

As a follow up to this, they were taken to Stony Batter and were made to walk through the tunnels in total darkness holding each others hands and using their senses to find their way out… “Scary!!!”

They were also taken into the bush and presented with the scenario that one of their group was severely injured and the rest of the group had to get the injured party out of the bush and safely back to the camp.

One of the injured, Faye Veloria said: “they had to carry me down the hill on a hand made stretcher consisting of sticks, belts and jackets. Initially I was terrified but that trust that we had developed in the tunnels comforted me and I relaxed in their capable hands.”

The camp concluded with all the students spending two hours alone and isolated (no cell phones or other electric devises, just them and nature) from each other. During this time they reflected on themselves, their families, each other and on their role as a Peer Supporter.

For three days the students were woken up by early morning swims (in freezing sea water), danced and sang while preparing meals and washing dishes, and created the picture of a big happy family.

The class would like to thank Mr Fransham and Mr Langdon for organising the camp, Mr Ropati and Ms Carr for also being there at the camp, and Ms Maybury for her visit.

The class would like to say: “Thank you all for this unforgettable experience!”

— Grace Mascarenhas and Katherine Findlay 13FR