Youngsters earn special recognition
The community service of 11 primary-school pupils in the Bay Harbour area has been recognised with a special award from Ferrymead Rotary.
The awards, based on the recommendations of teachers, are made to students who have demonstrated key leadership aspects. The criteria are based on students’ ability to be good listeners, to show initiative, to follow through on their actions, and to demonstrate the ability to work with a variety of people to get the job done.
Those honoured this year were: Phoenix Prime and Lincoln Binnie (Bromley); Ezrah Dela Cruz (Heathcote Valley); Rishtika Reddy and Archie Campbell (Mt Pleasant); Eli Dimbleby and Zoe Mulling (Redcliffs); Riley Legge and Izzy Every (Our Lady Star of the Sea); Cruz Webb-St John and Illiane Powrie (Sumner); Payton Tuhimata and Sakura Tatsumo (Te Waka Unua).
Reports from the schools revealed a variety of qualities and activities across the award-winners. These included:
- kindness to and support for other pupils; leadership roles;
- displaying excellent manners within the school and wider community;
- contributions to school sports teams and other school activities;
- work in school libraries;
- community involvement (some recipients have been working with elderly residents, or have been involved in community or church activities);
- positive role modelling for fellow students;
- demonstrating the ability to work with adults, teachers and other students in various roles.
Ferrymead Rotarian Pat Edward, who has overseen the project in recent years, says the aim is to promote a “good citizen” ethic within the school and the wider community. She emphasises that the criteria for the awards do not include academic or sporting skills. Rather, they concentrate on students’ contribution and service to the school and the community, and relationships with fellow pupils.