Rural pupils inspired at leadership event

YOUTH LEADERS: A Whareama School group of pupils, parents and teachers arrive in Wellington for the National Young Leaders' Day. The three students in front are Josh Taylor, Rebekah Jenkins and Sam Silvester. At the back are teacher Katz Taylor (left), students Lochiel Nielsen and Darleen Rogers, teacher Irene Walker and parents Malissa Nielsen and Jolene Jones. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Five pupils from Year 8 at Whareama School have returned engaged and energised from a sell-out National Young Leaders' Day (NYLD) in Wellington that attracted more than 1300 students and teachers from throughout the greater Wellington region.

Spokesman Jayson Kingsbeer said the greater Wellington annual leadership day was held at The Opera House in Wellington on Monday and it had been the fifth NYLD event to sell out this year.

He said the events had been held since 2001 at cities throughout New Zealand and more than 100,000 students had attended the events in that time.

"Demand for our events this year has been huge. It's great to see schools and parents investing in leadership education," he said.

To cater for a spike in demand for seats at the days in Wellington and Palmerston North, a second event was to be held in Palmerston North today.

Whareama School principal Darren Kerr said all Year 8 pupils from the small rural school had travelled to the nearest NYLD event over the past several years and were this year accompanied by relief principal Irene Walker and a team of teachers and parents.

Key speakers at the Wellington event included motivational coach William Pike, World Vision veteran Chris Jupp, artist Marcus "The Sand Man" Winter, Attitude Programme for Schools manager Zane Scarborough, artist Jamie McDell, and youth speakers Colson Verdonk Phoenic Puleanga.

Whareama School pupil Rebekah Jenkins, 13, said the event was her first visit to the Opera House and she had been most inspired by the presentation from sand and lightbox artist Winter.

Winter, according to his website, creates "live artworks by placing sand on a lightbox, and manipulates sand to create images that morph into amazing stories" tailored to the event at which he is making a presentation.

"He makes you want to do that style of art."

Rebekah said she and her Year 8 classmates had enjoyed the day and that she and others in the group were keen to take key points from the event and use them during classroom and school activities.