Lessons learnt from an EOTC drowning (video transcript)
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01 - Lessons Learned Video Please note the italicised bold headings were not said on the video they were inserted as text on the screen throughout the interview. 0:01 Kia ora koutou My name's Clive Hemel. I'm a veteran principal at Melville High School. Been there for 17 years. I'm a Taranaki boy and was captured in the Waikato by my wife, Maria Phillips. So Melville High School is on the Southside of Hamilton. It’s about 600 students. We are lower socio-Economic Community. Over 55% of our students areMāori 0:32 and we have strong relationship withNgāti Māhangamana whenua..The other element is that we only capture about half of the students who reside in their in their catchment. But it's a great school. We have a strong family ethic and focus on cultural, responsive and relational pedagogy. 0:55 The 2020 at the beginning of the year in February we had a year 13 camp at Waihi beach. We were focusing on the geography standards and a young student s Jaden drowned at a recreational swim just before the party were due to return to Hamilton. So I've been a principal for 37 years and 1:31 this has been the most challenging event I’ve faced Jaden was a likeable young man, generally quiet. We found after the tragedy that he was actually the centre of a lot of student networks and in that regard he had completed a swimming self-assessment form that we used as a guide to his competency. He was into drifting cars and music 2:00 and it was likable young man 2:06 Yes sorry had complete paperwork an approval chain of command. There were precautions taken for the recreational swim in that we had was based on historical practice but it was insufficient and inadequate. As I shared with you we’re a lot of sociological conomic Community we are relationship focused school and one of the things that school camps and 2:38 education outside the classroom activities do is provide a unique common activity for students and staff to share in. For example, next week we're off for a year 9 camp most of our students attend these. They're a great opportunity to for students to build relationships with teachers that they'll have next year and to strengthen other social interaction skills. Plus plus they’re fun activities, 3:10 though I love them so I'm heading out that way on Monday night. 3:17 Especially in dynamic times where there's our young people are spending a lot of time on digital devices and so their interpersonal skills are limited. For such activities that are essential, I believe in schools have a responsibility to make sure that we follow due process in their systems and procedures adhere to the most recent guidelines. What are some of the learning you personally have taken away from this tragic event.RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 1982