Hands-on approach allows Anzac spirit to thrive at Rhode Street School
Rhode Street School students were encouraged to get involved in their school celebration of the Anzac 100-year anniversary.
Anzac spirit was strong as Rhode Street School in Hamilton celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the troops landing at Gallipoli.
The school held a ceremony for students, teachers, volunteers and family to acknowledge those who lost their lives fighting for New Zealand.
The ceremony was carried out around the school’s field of remembrance – a space of 30 crosses, put together by the students themselves.
The crosses were supplied to the school by the Fields of Remembrance Trust, an organisation that gives schools the means to set up these fields.
Principal Shane Ngatai believes organisations like this have made the students more interested in learning about Anzac history because of the hands-on element.
“It’s made it really accessible to kids,” he said.
“In the past, when you did Anzac, it was a topic. What we’ve done differently here is made it real to the kids by personalising the Field of Remembrance to making these soldiers come alive again.”
It was important to Ngatai that the students be involved as much as possible.
“I’ve heard some schools have just got the caretaker to put [the crosses] up. It’s not meaningful in that context to the kids because they weren’t involved.” Ngatai said.
Ngatai said getting the students more involved has made them want to learn more about why Anzac day is commemorated.
Student council members Chris Everitt, 10, and Tyler Urwin-Hull, 12, have been enjoying learning about the history of the occasion.
“[They died] so we could live on this day,” Tyler said.
Chris added: “Yeah, otherwise we might not be here. So it is [important].”
The boys believe Anzac commemorations should continue to be a big part of school activities.
“Little kids now don’t really know, but when they’ve grown up they’ll know all about it,” Tyler said.
“If it [wasn’t for them] we might be speaking German or Turkish,” Chris said.
The field of remembrance will remain in place at Rhode Street School into May, after which the crosses will be used in a piece of art to put around the school.
