Students learn about rural water hazards

They may not be surrounded by beaches but a small country school in the Wairarapa are making sure their students can recognise water hazards in their environment.

Kahutara School has a roll of approximately 100 students with many of these students living on farms and being exposed to different kinds of water dangers like animal troughs, streams and irrigation systems that run through the property.

Teachers at the school work with the students to make sure they are able to identify what these are, how to be safe around them and ways they can manage them better such as making sure fencing is secure and emptying and turning troughs upside down.

Part of the schools programme also includes talking to the students about what they will be learning in the pool while still in the classroom, students then answer questions and demonstrate dryland skills before heading to the water.

The school has been a Kiwi Swim Safe School for three years and was recently visited by Education Advisor Sarah Gibbison.

During her visit Gibbison worked with the teachers using the Kiwi Swim Safe resources in a practical setting to help with ideas for the schools learn to swim programme.

The school also sell keys to school families who are free to then use it when they wish and they also have the pool open at lunchtime for any students who are keen to get some more swimming in.