New role to activate schools

A new sports activator has been employed to get Central Southland primary school students activated.

Ngawai Eyles will work with students and teachers from 11 schools, delivering skills-based sessions to children and professional development to teachers.

Sport Southland community activator Gareth Scott said the role, funded by KiwiSport and the schools involved mirrored a similar role established in Eastern Southland last term.

‘‘Schools in Central Southland have come together to drive the initiative, which will see Ngawai delivering basic sport skills sessions using a physical literacy approach. She will also help teachers gain the skills and confidence to deliver quality physical education programmes in their own schools,’’ he said.

‘‘Ngawai’s sessions will include games that encompass fundamental skills, so while kids might not be playing sport every session, they are developing key skills that will help them across a whole range of sports.’’

Eyles has moved south from Waikato with her partner, Southland Stags first five-eighth Wharenui Hawera. She played netball for Waikato in this season’s Beko Netball League, and has rep- resented Waikato and New Zealand in touch.

As part of her new role, Eyles will also co-ordinate inter-school sports tournaments, so students can put their skills into practice in a fun, tournament environment, as well as sport-based holiday programmes.

Winton School principal Steve Wadsworth said the initiative would lead to sustainable outcomes for the schools involved.

‘‘ This initiative will help to develop fundamental skills in students and will also support our teachers,’’ he said.

Wadsworth and Scott said longterm the initiative would also be about building better connections between schools, sporting clubs and Regional Sports Organisations.

Scott said it would be great to transfer from the school setting to the home setting by engaging the wider school community and parents to encourage more active communities.

This term Eyles is working with Drummond, St Thomas, Wallacetown, Lochiel, Hillside, Hedgehope, Heddon Bush and Waianawa schools.

She will start Winton, Limehills schools next term.

Eastern Southland schools have employed Stu Kent in an Activator role, with Kent starting last term. work with and Dipton