Eliza and Sophie are attending Big Rock Primary School in Brighton, a K-7 school with about eighty students (NZ years 1-8). This seaside school is named after a prominent natural feature in the area, a large rock at the crest of the hill on the edge of town. I’m sharing some highlights about this amazing place.
Firstly, they have a laid-back attitude that is perfect for Sophie’s and Eliza’s personalities. Just before the school year began (Feb 1st) we set up an appointment to meet with the principal. We assumed it would be quite formal. When we arrived, he was hosing off the front of the school in flip-flops and surf shorts, getting ready for the town “gala” that weekend. He invited us in and chatted enthusiastically about “tramping” and other outdoor activities. He has a fast and thick Kiwi accent, one that was difficult for me to understand at first. The girls have no trouble understanding him. After our visit to Queens High School we were prepared for a strict uniform policy and rules, but to our surprise he said that any clothing within reason is fine. Shoes are preferred outside. The lunchroom is the outdoor courtyard with a few benches. The children climb trees at recess and when they fall it teaches them a life lesson. The school assemblies are held outside on the grass. He proudly highlighted the school’s kitchen, explaining that they incorporate cooking into many of the subjects, including mathematics. He showed us the school swimming pool (in a detached building), explaining the importance of swimming skills for children who live with the ocean at their doors. The students just older than Sophie and Eliza go surfing every week. He praised the character of the children at the school and stated that he has never had a disciplinary problem that required a child to be sent to the principal’s office (although he has heard of that happening at other schools). Wow!
Sophie and Eliza are in a combined classroom (equivalent to 3-4 grades) with Mrs. Cambridge, a kind woman with a buoyant personality. When I dropped them off on the first day she asked, “do they have their togs?” I thought she meant “clogs” and I was very confused. Finally, I realized that
she meant their swimsuits. I brought the swimsuits back and found the girls seated together by a large, open window. The door to the classroom, leading to a coatroom and then outside, was also wide open, a tradition that many of the locals keep on warm days. The girls have needed their “togs” most days thru March and this has been very exciting for them, although they haven’t been keen on the communal dressing room and have asked special permission to use the bathroom stalls. Their school days include lots of physical activity, snacks, and hands-on learning. A typical day consists of maths, mid-morning “tea,” language arts, physical education (taught by the principal), lunch, Maori and social studies, science, 3 “play” times (recess), and swimming, which seems to mostly consist of team games. Now that the season is turning cold, they don’t swim but they are doing lots of cooking, makings things such as quiches, ANZAC biscuits (the hard cookies that they send to soldiers overseas), and wraps. They make enough to eat some at school and share with the family at home. I can’t wait to get the recipe book before we return to the US. It is my theory that the consistent presence of food and physical activity at Big Rock are related to the low-rate of discipline problems. The children don’t receive sugar in the classrooms. This contrasts with American schools which are especially inundated with sugars around every holiday (and birthdays, class rewards, special treats, etc.). Past teachers have sometimes denied the children recess as a disciplinary tool. It would make an interesting study to measure the correlation between snacks, exercise, student behavior and learning.
A few more words of praise for Big Rock Primary School. They are very service-oriented and community-oriented. For example, the children have been working for weeks on their preparations for some visits to a local retirement center. They are sharing talents, making artwork and developing recipes that they will make and share. Many of the school projects are cooperation-based involving communication skills. To the girls’ dismay, they are frequently asked to present their work in small groups and occasionally in front of the entire class. It has provided great opportunities for a sense of community (including the ability to take helpful criticism) and for developing confidence. The Kiwis truly excel in superb communication skills and I see this being nurtured at a young age.
We are very grateful for the opportunity for Eliza and Sophie to be part of Big Rock Primary School. We are looking forward to the upcoming visits at the retirement home, the netball games, and an upcoming Hangi—a traditional Maori feast—for the start of the Maori New Year.