Howick College has hosted the second annual Kāhui Ako Student Leadership Day, aimed at developing student leaders from various schools.
The school says the Howick Coast Kāhui Ako is a cluster of schools that collaborate closely to ensure positive progress and achievement for all students, as well as to strengthen pathways and transitions within the community.
Maraetai Beach School, Clevedon School, Brookby School, Botany Downs Primary, Howick Primary, Howick Intermediate, and Howick College each selected student leaders to attend a high-energy leadership workshop facilitated by Darren Pereira, an internationally renowned presenter in leadership development.
Pereira designed and led the morning session, focusing on building resilience and developing the mindset required to be successful leaders.
In the afternoon, Howick College student leaders organised and led a variety of team-building activities for their primary and intermediate counterparts.
Howick Primary principal Michael Earl says it was fantastic to continue working with Pereira, whose engaging approach “easily created sessions that supported our students in developing their skills and knowledge to be effective leaders”.
Earl acknowledges and thank Howick College, particularly its Kāhui Ako representative, Helen Henkin, and the Howick College student leaders for hosting another successful event.
Feedback from the student leaders who attended the leadership workshop was extremely positive.
One year 6 student leader from Howick Primary described the session with Pereira as humorous, interesting, and well-paced.
“It was great to understand how to engage with people and appreciate their points of view.
“I was able to develop my knowledge of a wide range of strategies that will help me to excel as a student leader.
“The Howick College leaders were great, and they organised a fantastic afternoon.”
Howick College head students Kalos Robinson-Frani and Sophie White say they and the other year 13 leaders found the workshop extremely worthwhile, as it touched on numerous valuable and interesting leadership topics.
“It was particularly rewarding to put some of our new learning into practice as we led the younger students through a range of fun and challenging outdoor activities.
“Our Kāhui Ako community showed great team-building and resilience and are truly a wonderful group of young leaders to work with.”
Howick College principal Dale Burden says the project provided an excellent opportunity for the school’s student leaders to contribute to the leadership development of local intermediate and primary school pupils.
“They’re outstanding role models and I’m very proud of the work they did.
“It was also a great chance for the younger students to get a taste of the many opportunities available at Howick College.”
