A Kiwi Olympian boxer, a former All Black and a rising Wairarapa singing star all helped energise 130 South Wairarapa schoolkids at the inaugural Moving On Conference held at Kuranui College yesterday.
Wairarapa singer Holly McGeorge, former championship Kiwi boxer Trevor Shailer and ex-All Black Brent "Buck" Anderson joined with almost a dozen other speakers and tutors for the conference, set to become an annual event, said Wairarapa Reap schools liaison and conference organiser Trudy Sears.
Ms Sears said the conference was similar to the Be Inspired event held in Masterton in May, which involved selected Year 6 to 8 pupils from 12 primary schools in the town.
However, the Moving On conference included all Year 8 pupils from 13 schools in South Wairarapa and was organised with Kahutara School principal Clare Crawford, South Featherston School principal Margie Sutherland, and Greytown School principal Kevin McKay as South Wairarapa Principals Cluster representatives.
Ms Crawford said the conference was an opportunity for the Year 8 pupils to attend workshops and listen to key speakers in a learning environment more in tune with a college environment. "We wanted something special for our Year 8 kids to give them a taste of school life yet to come, where they have more choices to make."
