Schools
20 April, 2023
Bellmere students learn beach safety
Year 5 and 6 students from Bellmere State School learned about beach safety as they visited Kings Beach at Caloundra on Mondays March 20 and 27.
It was the first time that some of them had been to the beach, and they were keen to see the sand and water.
Activities included wading/dolphin diving, bodyboarding, beach flag knowledge and safety, beach rescues, nipper boards, water games, beach sprints and relays.
As part of the national curriculum, all students are required to attend swimming lessons or beach safety lessons to boost their confidence and enable them to be safe in the water.
A group of Year 5 and 6 students from Bellmere State School goes to Caloundra each year for a beach safety day, with these days being an enjoyable part of the curriculum as the surf life savers give lessons.
The aim of the activity is to educate students on all aspects of beach and surf safety.
A large proportion of students were unable to attend these days in past years because their parents were unable to afford to send them.
With the sponsorship and support of Ray White Wamuran | Bellmere, the Bellmere State School’s entire Year 5 and Year 6 student population was able to attend this year.
Ray White’s donation covered the cost of the surf safety lessons for all of the students, while the students raised funds by having a Boardshorts and Icy Pole Day to cover the cost of the bus travel.
The students wore their board shorts to school, and a gold coin donation enabled them to buy an icy pole.
The teacher in charge, Kathryn Hehir, said this year featured the highest attendance they had had of any school excursion, thanks to the sponsorship.
Bellmere State School business manager Sue Taylor said the school was very grateful for the support, as the beach safety excursion was a very worthwhile initiative for the students.
