Bring Play to Cyclone Hit Puketapu School Community
Bring Play to Cyclone Hit Puketapu School Community
Napier, Hawke's Bay
The children of Puketapu School, Hawkes Bay, and their families have been devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle. Many of the children were rescued from their house roof tops by helicopters and have lost their homes and all their important possessions. Their families have lost livelihoods, stock, and treasured pets and belongings. The clean up and recovery process is huge and will be ongoing for many months ahead. We want to create an opportunity for some unadulterated fun and play for this community, to 'lighten the load' for families over the coming months. In times of trauma, play is recognised as a therapeutic way for kids to work though their experiences, and to establish a sense of control and normality in amongst the chaos the trauma has caused.
Use of funds
Money raised will be used to purchase and freight to school several Magic Play Boxes that will be used, with the support of local play experts, to establish a play 'hub' for children and their families to experience some joy and fun at school.
Latest update
Play at Puketapu School 11 April 2023
On Thursday 6 April, the four magic play boxes were opened and introduced to the students of Puketapu School. The school was divided into two groups, and two play sessions ran across the course of the morning, facilitated by Longworth Education facilitators, Sarah Aiono, Linda Cheer and Jill Skjottrup; Junky Monkey's expert (and Longworth facilitator) Kate Webber; and supported by Pia Bradshaw from Hawkes' Bay's LooseEnz and Te Waka Tākaro from the HDC. Before the play sessions began, the children were already exploring the loose parts and making plans for their creations. The joy and excitement was clearly evident!! Over the next two sessions of an hour and a half each, children were observed creating go-karts, enclosures, swings, marble runs, pirate ships, restaurants (including wood-fired pizza) and so much more. Learning observed included task initiation, organisation, planning, negotiation, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, collaboration and problem-solving. The laws of physics were regularly tested, design modifications occurred on multiple levels and mathematical estimation was clearly evident. Finally, the talking that occurred was non-stop!!
Happy kids, an abundance of learning and a moment for children to put aside the trauma of the term for some unadulterated fun and laughter at school.
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