Whakatāne Intermediate students recently had an exciting and hands-on experience interacting with emergency responders, including police officers, ambulance crews, and firefighters.

The two-day “Emergency Responders” elective allowed students to engage directly with these essential services as part of their Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) programme.

The elective was one of 27 offered to students at the school, providing them with a chance to explore a wide range of activities.

Teacher Tracey Rhodes, who is also a station officer at the Whakatāne Volunteer Fire Brigade, was the perfect person to lead this group of students.

“There are 16 students in my group, from year 7 and year 8,” said Ms Rhodes.

Each student selects an elective, and then they’re chosen to participate.

Over two days, students had the chance to experience several aspects of emergency response. On the first day, they participated in firefighting and ambulance activities, and the following day, they started with a police demonstration before returning to firefighting.

“With the police, the students were able to try fingerprinting, learn about road spikes, observe speed cameras in action, and even look at firearms [under supervision],” said Ms. Rhodes.

They also had fun with hose runs, rolling out hoses and spraying water – perfect for a hot day.

“In the ambulance, students looked at the medical equipment on board and practised strapping patients to stretchers.”

They were also lucky enough to be collected from school in the fire engines.

Ms Rhodes said big thanks went to the fire officers, who are volunteers, the ambulance crew and the police officers who came in for the day to show the students.

“We can’t run these kinds of things without these guys helping.”

Principal Michael Webster said the electives programme was a key part of the school's curriculum, held every year over two days.

“The kaupapa of our electives programme is to provide our students with a choice of an activity that they experience for the first time and create a fun learning opportunity.

“It can be something that is outside their comfort zone, where they experience the pride in challenging themselves in an activity that they thought they could never do.”

It could also be something they have always wanted to try or an opportunity for them to share their interest or talent with other students.