Almost 100 east Auckland student leaders from seven schools gathered at Howick College on June 1 for the inaugural Howick Coast Kāhui Ako Student Leadership Day.
The Howick Coast Kāhui Ako is a cluster of schools that work closely together to ensure positive progress and achievement for all students at their schools and to strengthen pathways and transitions through the community.
Participating schools included Maraetai Beach School, Clevedon School, Brookby School, Botany Downs Primary, Howick Primary, Howick Intermediate, and Howick College, with each school selecting student leaders in years 6-13 to attend.
“This was a wonderful opportunity for our student leaders to grow their understanding of leadership and service while having the opportunity to meet other student leaders and hopefully make some new friends on the day,” says Maraetai School principal, Mark Keenan.
Feedback from students was also positive, with participants expressing enjoyment and the development of valuable skills.
Students from Clevedon School appreciated learning about giving others courage and credit.
Brookby School students found inspiration in the idea that a vision should be born from their own inspiration.
The event facilitated cross-school interaction, allowing younger students to meet and learn from older student leaders. Students from Botany Downs Primary enjoyed seeing the older students in leadership roles.
Howick College head students, Tiana Thomson and Mitchell Carr, said they and their fellow leaders were grateful for the chance to participate in the programme and develop practical leadership strategies.
“Organising activities for the younger students in our Kāhui Ako was a great opportunity to put our new learning into practice,” they say.
Howick College principal, Dale Burden, was extremely proud of the Howick College student leadership team who organised and ran a variety of leadership and team-building activities in the second part of the day.
“I would also like to thank Darren Pereira, Mark Keenan, Howick College deputy principal, Adam Bannister and all those who made the day a success,” says Burden.
