Debbie Garea GO4it Fundamentals Advisor Sport Bay of Plenty

The sound of laughter and support could be heard all over the playing fields and courts of Paengaroa School as the Year 5-6 Dynamo leaders and Te Puke High School leaders ensured Paengaroa pupils become more active – more often.

As a part of the Go4it programme – Lead It stream, the Dynamo leaders are sharing innovative games and leadership activities across all age groups. Paengaroa's teachers, parents and the Board of Trustees could not be happier with this collaborative initiative between the two schools.

The initiative was developed by Mark Boyle, deputy principal at Paengaroa School. The idea was a result of visiting the Te Puke High School open day. Te Puke High was promoting their new Plus Ultra: High Performance Athlete Academy and Senior Leadership Programme.

Mark thought it would be a great win-win relationship for both schools to work together.

Te Puke High School leaders were able to develop their leadership skills through working with the primary school students while they were planning, facilitating and leading a variety of games, sports and skill based sessions to other Paengaroa students during the lunchtimes.

After meeting with TPHS' Learning Physical Education and Health leader of learning Shea McEvoy and assistant leader Claire Jepson and co-constructing a framework, the new Paengaroa/TPHS Sport Partnership started immediately with support of Paengaroa School principal Bruce Lendrem.

Bruce says the children at Paengaroa School are lucky to have a group of Year 5-6 Dynamo Leaders, as well as a group of Year 9-12 TPHS leaders to organise and lead lunchtime activities aimed at getting the children more active – more often.

'The activities are fun, healthy and action-packed,” says Bruce.

Sport Bay of Plenty was invited to facilitate the Lead it Dynamos training day for both TPHS leaders and Year 5-6 Paengaroa Dynamo leaders.

Sport BOP delivered a workshop of leadership theory and practical games and activities, based on the Sport New Zealand Growing Leaders Programme.

Sport BOP's facilitator Paora Ranui says the session was also a great opportunity for TPHS students and Paengaroa students to develop their mentoring relationship 'that will continue throughout the year”.

Sport BOP fundamentals advisor Debbie Garea says this initiative could be an excellent model for other primary and secondary schools to implement.

'The Dynamo leaders organised and facilitated their first activity day this week. More than 170 students were involved in three groups.”

Year 5 dynamo leader Ashlyn Koce says: 'Our seven and eight year olds were playing the cooperative games, learning new games, developing a variety of skills and using up a lot of energy”.

'They listened very well to the leaders and got a lot out of the session.”

The sessions will continue for the rest of the year.

Read more about the Go4it programme at www.sportbop.co.nz/school_go4it