Harold loves to learn and tell jokes - I will miss him

Southlander cum Marlburian Genevieve MacDonald first heard about Life Education some 17 years ago.

Interested in being their teacher she says the ‘ducks fell into a row’ five years later when she applied for and was offered the job.

12 years later and often known as the ‘Harold Lady’ she says teaching with Harold has been high energy mahi. Harold the Giraffe is the mascot of Life Education. He works in the mobile classroom with the teacher, to help encourage conversations with the students about situations they might find themselves in and how to act in a positive way when they do.

I will miss him.”

Life Education is a charitable trust that delivers a health programme to children in preschool, primary and intermediate schools.

The trust builds self-esteem and teaches children the ‘marvel of the human body’ so they can make informed decisions and lead a healthy life. The Marlborough Trust is completely locally funded, and all funds raised stay within the community.

Since commencing in May 2006, Marlborough’s mobile classroom has visited the primary and intermediate schools in the Marlborough region, including Rai Valley, the Marlborough Sounds and Kaikoura.

Within Marlborough, the programme is dependent on the support of a small but vital group of local sponsors whose contribu-

“We’re on the go all the time, giving our best to the kids - the tamariki are amazing. For all you give, you get back three fold in inspiration, motivation and insight so it was never a chore to see the next class coming to the mobile for a lesson,” she says.

“Seeing the excitement as they approached the mobile classroom was a highlight and the chatter as the children were entering - the anticipation building for the fun, magical, learning time they were about to have. And then, of course, there was Harold. A beloved mascot to all ages. He’s funny, cheeky, and teasing. He loves to learn and to tell jokes. He and I were good friends and tions by way of funding services helps them deliver the programme to schools at a highly subsidised rate so that all pupils have the opportunity to attend.

Genevieve says it always felt so gratifying and rewarding when there was feedback from the kura (school) and kaiako (educator) that the ākonga (students) had taken their learning from Life Education and applied it in their lives at school and at home.

“This happens often and shows that we do make a difference in the lives of young people and their whanau,” she says.

Genevieve says she was ‘very passionate’ about the Life Education messages or what she refers to as important life lessons for tamariki and rangitahi to hear.

“There are five strands. Relationships and Communities,

Identity and Resilience, Food and Nutrition, Body Systems, and Substances,” she says.

“Building relationship skills and resilience are common themes for learning throughout the age groups (we teach from four-year-old up to 13-year-old, Year 8). It is the same throughout New Zealand. Mental health is a big issue in this country and kura are already teaching it in their classrooms. Life Education is a fabulous organisation that can support kura, kaiako and ākonga with this.”

Genevieve believes the Marlborough trust is in a great place for moving into 2023. At the moment they are advertising for a new teacher to carry the important mahi.

“I encourage any registered teacher who is interested to get in touch as this is an incredible opportunity. The mobile classroom visits all schools in the Marlborough area. My time with the organisation has been the highlight of my teaching career and one I will look back on with relish,” she says.

As for life after Harold?

“We have built a new home just north of Kaikōura that has the most incredible views of the ocean and the mountains,” she says. “We love our new life here and are keeping our options open for opportunities that will come our way.”