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The start of something extraordinary

Motueka High School students upskill in aquatic education

Students from Motueka High School are on track to on gain Level 3 credits after working with Swimming New Zealand to complete a swim teacher qualification course.

Eight year 12 and 13 Gateway students attended the Swimming New Zealand Assistant Swim Teacher Award (SNZ ASTA) course with Education Advisor Sarah Gibbison.

The one day course included a theory session followed by a pool session where the students experienced the basic progressions used to effectively teach learn to swim.

Since the course the students have been working to complete their post course requirements of providing 20 hours of swimming lessons at local primary schools with the support of SNZ and ASB Aquatic Centre (Nelson).

After spending the day with Sarah the students were much more confident about teaching swimming with plenty of new skills to help them.

One of the students, Samantha Trevurza, recently competed at the New Zealand Age Group Championships where she was a gold and silver medallist. Samantha is passionate about learning to swim and along with the other students will use her skills to provide learn to swim experiences to local schools in the Nelson region.

Once the students complete their 20 hours of swim teaching they will receive 20 Level 3 credits.

This was the first year that Swimming New Zealand has worked with Motueka High School and Sarah was impressed by the first group of students to take part with their enthusiasm to make a difference to young children in the water.