Chaos in the EA Networks Centre as Ashburton College executive and Student Learning Support students played pool. Photos Sue NewmanWhen you’re in a warm pool and there’s a ball to toss around, it doesn’t matter whether you’re able-bodied or not, whether your’e an academic star or finding learning difficult; in the water you’re equals.

And just how much of a leveller water can be was demonstrated yesterday at Ashburton’s EA Networks Centre when students of all ages and abilities played a freestyle form of volleyball.

There were no teams, no winners, the game was a perfect example of students working together.

In an initiative driven by Ashburton College’s student executive and led by sports committee chairwoman, Emily Armstrong, students from the college’s Student Learning Support Unit (SLSU) and senior students and executive members donned their togs and took to the water.

The pool session was a way of uniting students from different parts of the school, Armstrong said.

“It’s about uniting everyone, making everyone feel included.

“Uniting everyone and making them feel part of the school, part of the community, is our goal,” she said.

A similar pool day was held two years ago and Armstrong said when she suggested it to the executive there was a real enthusiasm to repeat the event.

It was part of the college’s philosophy that every student should feel included and activities such as this were one way of living up to that, Armstrong said.

Cheryl Harding, teacher in charge of the SLSU, said the pool day was a great way for her students to feel part of the activities that most took for granted.

“No-one treats anyone as any different in the pool, there’s great camaraderie,” she said

Some of her students involved in the activity were not able to swim, but they were paired with a senior student and once they were in the water with float aids, it was amazing how quickly they relaxed and enjoyed themselves, she said.

“That they’re able to do this is all down to these students (executive) and when they’re in the water, they just become part of a big group of students having fun.”

The SLSU is the school base for 17 students from Year 9 to 13. About 14 of those took part in yesterday’s pool day.

By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 22 June 2019