Wiri Central School proved a wonderfully exciting 2 weeks together as we journeyed through the main five themes and support material for Kool Kidz with all pupils from Year 4 up, though the younger students all had a WITS session too. The pupils and staff are so motivated to overcome anti-social behavioural incidences with some awesome school-wide management strategies which Kool Kidz was able to enhance with a fresh slant. Kids were encouraged to engage their Wiri Wits: walk away, ignore, tell someone and make ‘I’ statements when resolving conflict. Key potential problem emotions like anger, bullying, depression, grief and loss, stress and loneliness were analysed, identifying causes, symptoms and management plans including people we can trust to help us.

Pupils were challenged to embrace changes with diet and exercise, especially reducing fats, salt and sugars while increasing water consumption as a primary support to help improve educational learning. We explored our leisure time TV, DVD and computer viewing preferences reflecting that not all choices were in our best interests, agreeing that Push Play 30 minutes a day would set us up for a life’s healthy exercise. Change areas were identified: negatives were shredded, while positive replacement goals were created. Kids researched NZ Heroes as role models for mottoes to encourage their success especially during the inevitable storms of life.

Parents and Staff sessions looked at creative solutions to the underlying issues of anti-social behaviour especially bullying. Our time together was all too quickly over, but we had enjoyed a hugely reflective and empowering time, reflecting on our needs and planning for better methods to meet them so school and life would again be cool for all!