Cooper began his first day by walking one lap of the field. That was enough for him; he was ready for a drink and a snack. Each day, he would come out and run and walk a little bit more, pushing himself until he was exhausted! He got better and better at moving his body for long distances, working towards his 1km walk/run for cross-country.
Cooper has Kleefstra Syndrome, a rare genetic condition caused by a tiny missing piece or change on chromosome 9. It can affect different parts of a person’s development, including learning, speech and language, muscle tone (how strong and firm muscles are), and coordination or movement. People with Kleefstra Syndrome often need extra time and support to build their physical strength, learn new skills, and communicate with others. For Cooper, this means some everyday things, like running, can be more challenging and take more effort. With determination, daily practice, and the encouragement of his teachers and friends, he has worked hard to build his strength, increase his stamina, and improve how his body moves.
On the morning of the school's cross-country event, Cooper’s biggest excitement was knowing that Mum and his little brother would be there to cheer him on.
All morning long, he called out proudly, reminding everyone that his family was coming to watch. As he lined up at the starting line, with his buddy Hendrik, Cooper did one final wave and smiled at Mum. He had his name ticked off, ready to earn points for his house. “On your marks, get set, go!” and Cooper set off down the track.
After a while, runners began to make their way through the final stretch of the course, passing the finish line. There was a small gap in the runners, when suddenly, Cooper appeared over the hill. A small chant begins, “Go Cooper! Go Cooper!”. The entire school stopped.
Teachers, students, and whānau lined the course. The cheer grew louder and louder as Cooper navigated the final hill. Hendrik and the students alongside him began to encourage and guide Cooper to the finish line. Charlie was coming in at the same time, and he pulled back and gave Cooper the moment to shine. This highlighted the true meaning of whānau at Wairakei Primary. Everyone celebrating one boy’s determination and courage.
I ran with Cooper for the cross country and helped him. Cooper did so good. He didn’t stop and kept going. Going across the finish line, he did great. It felt nice when everyone was cheering.
Cross-country races are about speed and competition. For Cooper, it was about something bigger. It was about trying his best, pushing himself to achieve more than he had before, and respecting the way students let Cooper have his moment to shine.
It was a very emotional experience, watching Cooper complete his cross-country run. The excitement was evident as he lined up with his peers and started his race. The real magic was his finish, though. Seeing the way the rest of the school supported him across the finish line made me so incredibly proud to be a part of our school. What a culture! The sense of pride and accomplishment that Cooper must have felt is invaluable. I was grateful for my sunglasses that day!
Having initially begun my career in education as a teacher aide in 2016, I have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside students to build their confidence and develop pride in their identity. I’m passionate about te reo Māori and kapa haka, as I firmly believe this is an important part of students finding their identity and sense of belonging as a student in Aotearoa.
With a particular focus on building students’ mana, I have developed a strength for building connections and relationships with my students. In my daily practice, I seek to achieve this by encouraging students to step out of their comfort zone, and show opportunity by giving everything a go.
Outside of the classroom, you can find me getting lost in my kindle or spending time with friends and whānau at the lake.
Comments
No one has commented on this post yet.