STA course proves to be popular for Gateway students in the BOP

Over 35 students in the Bay of Plenty have attended Swimming New Zealand Swim Teacher Award (STA) courses this year, with Education Advisor Erin Fowler, through Gateway in their schools.  Students from six high schools in Tauranga and Rotorua have attended the course and are now working towards completing the STA and gaining their 43 credits.

Jessica from Mt Maunganui College is the first, this year, to complete her Swim Teacher Award through Gateway. Jess worked alongside Papamoa Swim Club to complete all of the course requirements. Jess enjoyed aquatics so much that she is now working towards becoming a lifeguard! Already many of the students have found employment as swim teachers and are loving instructing in the water. One student who completed the STA via gateway last year has just been appointed to an on deck supervisor role. We will have more students attending Swimming New Zealand’s next tier of courses, Early Childhood Swim Teacher award, Teaching Swimmers with Disabilities and the School Age and Adults award.

Thank you to the ongoing support of local Quality Swim Schools Bayswim, Bartlett Swim School, Rotorua Lakes Swim School, Orange Swim School and swim clubs Swim Rotorua and Papamoa Swim Club for supporting the students to complete the award and assist in their training.

Last year 46 Bay of Plenty students attended the Swim Teacher Award course and 6 months later all 46 had completed the swim Teacher Award. 100% completion is a fantastic result.

Students are from Mt Maunganui College in Tauranga and John Paul College, Western Heights High School, Rotorua Girls High School, Rotorua Boys High School and Rotorua Lakes High School.

Image: students from Mt Maunganui College attending the STA course pool session from February.