BEING there STAYING close

Back when dinosaurs walked the earth (ie when I was in my second year of teaching at Maungaturoto Primary School) the Year 5 and 6 classes (total of 100 students) were excitedly setting up their bunk rooms at a Mangawhai Heads camp. As the leader of this camp my next job was to outline to everyone our camp rules. eg Tidy bunk rooms, washing hands after using the toilets and keeping safe within the camp boundaries. 

We had some free time before dinner so the students were allowed to play on the outdoor education equipment. All was well and then it wasn’t. A scream. An awful thud. Dust rising. Silence. The sounds came from the direction of the rope swing. A girl lay crumpled and motionless on the bank. 

Realising the serious of the situation an ambulance was called. On the way to Whangarei Hospital the girls life hung in the balance (as we found out later she had ruptured her spleen). There was nothing more that we could do for her back at camp, so the camp continued. 

Later that evening we heard that she was going to be Ok. I was relieved, but still stressed by the close call. The Principal of the school arrived a few hours later, close to midnight. He said a few reassuring words to me and stayed close. When I spoke to the students and adults the following morning he stood by my side and walked with me as I visited the various camp activities. 

I have never forgotten the profound effect his kind actions had on me then and in later years. Thanks John.