Last Tuesday 15^th November our students were visited by Mr Ian Ross from Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST). They developed their skills and knowledge of many important boating skills; what you need to think about before and during any boating activity, how to use inflatable jackets, how to check life jackets to make sure they work, what is required to take with you when boating and what these look like and how to use them, how to check fire extinguishers, how to use flares, the difference between each flare and how an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) works.  Our early childhood classes took home a book to share.

Here are some comments from our students:

• Isabelle - you have to be safe in the boat. Before you get on a boat you have to wear a life jacket.
• Abbie G - Ian let off some flares at lunch time on the oval. The red flare was my favourite! It looked really cool.
• Mitchell - I got to wear the life jacket. When Ian inflated the life jacket it squeezed really hard! It was fun!

We would like to pass on many thanks to Ian from MAST for visiting our school! If you are interested in further information, check out the MAST website, they have some great resources: https://www.mast.tas.gov.au/

During our Swimming and Water Safety Program, our students in years 3-5, will use their boat knowledge from Ian’s MAST visit in their boat safety and survival component. Monday 21^st of November was our first day of our Swimming and Water Safety Program.  It will be great for our students to apply their MAST boating knowledge practically at the pool! I can’t wait to see our students progress their swimming skills and knowledge throughout the program. Here are some comments from some of our swimmers from day 1:

• Addison - Day 1 was a bit intense, I am in Renee’s group!
• Henry - I am looking forwarded to learning about wearing life jackets in the water!
• Mayson - I want to learn to swim backstroke!
• Bentley - I really enjoyed finding the underwater rings. I look forward to everything!