Girls’ School Clock Up 17,945km!

There’s nothing like a House Challenge to get our students motivated! Back in August when the country entered its fifth lockdown, our schools quickly transitioned to distance learning from their isolation spots in home bubbles. At times like these, it’s important to take a break away from screens and so a very ambitious idea was put forward at the Girls’ School – for the Houses to collectively run, skip, scooter, walk, bike, jump the equivalent length of New Zealand. And if that wasn’t motivation enough, they needed to beat the staff team to Bluff!

While challenge was the motivation, the real driver was to encourage both our staff and students to get outside in the fresh air every day to maintain physical and mental wellbeing. 

The recording of distance, however, had to reflect sustained effort – clocking up the steps to the fridge didn’t count!

Each week, through SKGTV, the Girls’ School video channel, Miss Candace Cassie, Prefects, fellow students and staff kept the encouragement flowing during bright and breezy episodes - some of our girls clearly have a future in the media industry! The girls were surprised one week by a guest visitor – New Zealand Athlete, Eliza McCartney appeared on screen to offer words of encouragement and training tips!

And so, after 38 days of solid effort, on the last day of term, the results were tallied…and Wishart, having accumulated 3872km were just 100km short of the finish line, heading into Bluff where the staff team were already waiting! Chalmers finished at the AJ Hackett Bungee Jump in Queenstown after 3491km, Cargill reached Haka Te Re Conservation Park with 2925km and Hamilton were at Lake Coleridge with 2900km knocked off. And the staff? They completed all 4757km from Cape Reinga to Bluff!

All up, that was 17,945km….but we do need to point out, incentives come in all forms, and when the weather wasn’t so flash, double points were up for grabs on some days, and the Junior School were awarded a kilometre for every skip! No matter the final distance achieved, the main aim was to get outside in the fresh air, get some exercise and have some fun!

Where to next, girls?