Lincoln University’s Future Leader Scholars were helping to bring the Hororata community together last week, as well as getting a few dads to try their hand at baking.
The scholars ran Primary Focus Day on Friday, an annual event with Hororata Primary School where students and parents had three pre-arranged competitions judged on the day; dads doing baking, mums doing sculpture and family photo events.
All competitors were asked to take photos displaying the making process to show the interaction involved with each parent and their children.
One of the student organisers, Phoebe Topp, said the objective of the day is to promote “good all-round wellbeing within the rural community”.
“It provides an opportunity for farming families to participate in activities which involve the whole family. The entries were incredible and the feedback was positive.
“One parent came up to me saying that it was the first cake her husband and child had made together and they absolutely had a ball making it.
“This sums up the whole purpose of entering the competitions. Taking time out and spending it with family, and begin to create habits which will make each family unit stronger and realize that you don’t always have to go out of the farm gate to take time off,” Phoebe said.
“It’s all about appreciating the simple things in life.”
Hororata School principal, Marty Gameson, was enthusiastic about the day.
"Primary Focus is all about our community. It brings together the whole community, we have grandparents in wheelchairs through to the very little kids who aren’t even at school yet. It is not about the school only, it’s about the wider community and it is an event we would love to see continue every year."
Phoebe said the day focused on the five strategies for looking after your physiological wellbeing and happiness used at Lincoln University; be active, take notice, keep learning, give and connect.
“We had great activities based around these concepts which kept the kids active and thinking,” she added.
She said Farm Strong were crucial sponsors supporting them to demonstrate the ways of wellbeing, giving merchandise, handouts and posters.
“Dairy NZ also gave every child a bag with treats in it, and we got some fantastic family passes from different event centres around Christchurch which made for great whole family activities. Lots of local communities gave us prizes and it was great to have their support."
The Future Leader Scholarship Programme involves teaching leadership skills to exceptional Lincoln students. The scholars take part in clubs, committees and group projects throughout each university year.
The scholars ran Primary Focus Day on Friday, an annual event with Hororata Primary School where students and parents had three pre-arranged competitions judged on the day; dads doing baking, mums doing sculpture and family photo events.
All competitors were asked to take photos displaying the making process to show the interaction involved with each parent and their children.
One of the student organisers, Phoebe Topp, said the objective of the day is to promote “good all-round wellbeing within the rural community”.
“It provides an opportunity for farming families to participate in activities which involve the whole family. The entries were incredible and the feedback was positive.
“One parent came up to me saying that it was the first cake her husband and child had made together and they absolutely had a ball making it.
“This sums up the whole purpose of entering the competitions. Taking time out and spending it with family, and begin to create habits which will make each family unit stronger and realize that you don’t always have to go out of the farm gate to take time off,” Phoebe said.
“It’s all about appreciating the simple things in life.”
Hororata School principal, Marty Gameson, was enthusiastic about the day.
"Primary Focus is all about our community. It brings together the whole community, we have grandparents in wheelchairs through to the very little kids who aren’t even at school yet. It is not about the school only, it’s about the wider community and it is an event we would love to see continue every year."
Phoebe said the day focused on the five strategies for looking after your physiological wellbeing and happiness used at Lincoln University; be active, take notice, keep learning, give and connect.
“We had great activities based around these concepts which kept the kids active and thinking,” she added.
She said Farm Strong were crucial sponsors supporting them to demonstrate the ways of wellbeing, giving merchandise, handouts and posters.
“Dairy NZ also gave every child a bag with treats in it, and we got some fantastic family passes from different event centres around Christchurch which made for great whole family activities. Lots of local communities gave us prizes and it was great to have their support."
The Future Leader Scholarship Programme involves teaching leadership skills to exceptional Lincoln students. The scholars take part in clubs, committees and group projects throughout each university year.