SPOTSWOOD STUDENTS MAKE A SPLASH!

Spotswood Primary School, in western New Plymouth, has a mission to provide genuinely equitable learning experiences for each of the Tamariki on their 270-strong roll. That includes a strong focus on swimming because outside school, many of their students spend so much time at the beach.

“Our pool is broken and not repairable. It needs a full replacement, which is completely beyond our means as a school,” said Mark Fisher, Principal.

“Even if it were possible, it would be an outside pool, so the weather limits how many weeks we could have it open.

“Our Board recognises the importance of water safety. Learning to swim is vital for all Kiwi kids, but the cost of lessons is too much for most of our families, which means very few of our students have had swimming lessons with a qualified instructor.

“For example, in one of our senior classes, only one student out of 31 had lessons outside of school.”

Toi Foundation funding of $18K, combined with parents’ fundraising efforts, has covered the cost of weekly lessons and buses to and from Fulton Swim School for all Spotswood students this term.

“It’s a lovely warm, covered pool, which makes it easier for the children to learn in,” said Mark.

“Each class gets a half-hour lesson with two qualified instructors who teach swimming and water safety skills.

“The instructors are wonderful with reluctant swimmers, too. The other day, I spoke to one young boy who was adamant he didn’t want to go to his first lesson in the pool. But when we talked again the next day, he said it was great and he couldn’t wait to go back.

“This is the third year we’ve run this programme, and the second year taking the entire school. Our community is right behind it and very appreciative of their children learning to swim.”