Student leaders take to the high seas

30 January 2005

Learning with a difference:

Student leaders take to the high seas

Student leaders who are members of school boards of trustees around the country take to the high seas tomorrow on the Spirit of Adventure, in a novel approach to school governance professional development.

The 40 students all serve on boards of trustees which govern schools and which are made up of elected members including parents, caregivers, students and staff.

New Zealand School Trustees Association general manager Ray Newport says it’s the first time that a voyage of the Spirit of Adventure has been specifically targeted at student trustees, and will incorporate training for school governance.

He says the Spirit of Adventure Trust and the NZ School Trustees Assn have worked in partnership to provide these leading young people with a once in a lifetime experience of sailing the Spirit of Adventure while at the same time, having the opportunity to sharpen their school governance skills.

“All of the 40 participants will be required to undertake strategic leadership training directly relevant to their trusteeship role over the course of the five-day sailing experience.

“It is a novel approach, and one which will challenge the participants both in their seamanship, and in the ‘classroom’.”

Dean Burt, a leading NZSTA trainer will be facilitating the classroom work on the Spirit of Adventure.

Susan Janett, Purser with the Sprit of Adventure Trust says this is a new approach for the Spirit of Adventure Trust.

“We are excited about partnering with the NZSTA to provide these school trustees with a unique experience. The demand for places on the trip has been so heavy that we will be running a second trip for student trustees in association with NZSTA in mid February,” she says.

The student trustees embark the Spirit of Adventure in Auckland at 4.00pm today (Monday), and set sail at approximately 9.00 am tomorrow (Tuesday).

ENDS

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