Boys at Ashburton Borough School have been taking part in a pilot programme which uses woodwork skills and bonding, to boost confidence and resilience.
The mobile Edge Workshop, facilitated by BB New Zealand (formerly known as The Boys Brigade), has been in the school since last term.
It is the first school in Mid Canterbury to take part and is run by Merv Falconer and Russell Pearce, assisted by Murray McPherson.
BB Ashburton captain Ross Holland said six boys met about three hours a week and learned hand tool skills to create projects, while being taught positive values.
‘‘The activities provide challenges for the boys and they are encouraged to face their frustrations,” he said.
“(Then) display tenacity to overcome their initial resistance and practice the skills needed.’’
He said once the boys mastered a particular skill they were quite uplifted.
‘‘Often see them literally come to life during a session.’’
Last term, pupils Fergus Gilmour, Seleti Penisoni, Archie Wallace, Ollie Wear, Tyler White and Eli Poswillo took part.
They each crafted a gumboot remover, a phone holder and a toy car and trailer.
For pupils Eli and Tyler it had been a positive experience.
‘‘Excellent,’’ Tyler said.
‘‘Amazing,’’ said Eli.
School principal Dianne Prendergast said those selected, from years 5 to 6, were chosen to develop further confidence and were good role models for other kids.
“They get an opportunity to succeed in something other than the academic stuff in the classroom. Hands-on stuff, boys like that,’’ she said.
“It’s another way of developing our young boys into being good young.”
She said the pupils who had taken part in term one had grown more confident as a result, a proven result from the programme.
A second group of six were taking part this term.
Prendergast has seen the programme’s success first-hand as the former principal at Springston School.
She had initiated it there too.
“It allowed them to learn some new skills, develop some talents and have some success that wasn’t necessarily in academic areas,” she said.
“But it was also really good for them to have those male role models who guided them.”
The programme challenged and pushed the boys to extend themselves, and was always linked to the school’s values and developing personal strengths, she said.
Outcomes saw improved attendance as well as improved attitude and outlook.
“It just gave them a bit of purpose and they felt special to be part of the programme.”
BB New Zealand South Island development manager Warwick Tomlinson had helped set up the programme in Mid Canterbury.
Nationwide more than 490 boys from 25 schools had taken part in the past year.
BB Ashburton were grateful for funding from Advance Ashburton Community Foundation to have the programme at the school and to Braided Rivers Community Trust for a shuttle trailer to use for tools and supplies.
In time, BB Ashburton, in partnership with the Ashburton Baptist Church, hoped to make the Edge Workshop available to other primary schools in the district.
Schools that were interested could contact Ross Holland or Mark Dewhirst via email at: [email protected]
