Twenty-six pupils from years 7-8 took the leap of faith as part of AJ Hackett’s Brave Project — an initiative teaching children to manage stress and build resilience.
AJ Hackett innovations and project manager Matt Hollyer said the project emerged during Covid times to help children deal with a changing world.
"Providing some tools about being brave and taking on the challenges that you need to as you’re growing up.
This was the first time the project, which includes a classroom teaching programme, has been delivered at a primary school level.
St Joseph’s deputy principal and teacher Alice Dunstan said the children had spent eight weeks learning breathing and resilience techniques, the power of attitude, and how to respond positively in stressful situations.
"We’ve been reading some stories in class about different people who have had different experiences in times they needed to show bravery and leadership, and obviously this is the pinnacle today ... having this real life experience of being able to put all their learning into action," she said.
Quinn O’Donnell (11) was the first to launch off the platform to the cheers and gasps of his classmates.
"I was feeling so nervous but I took one deep breath and I jumped ... felt scary!"
Eddie Doyle-Stewart (11), who was watching his sister, Ava, prepare to jump, said he "wasn’t too scared" and his best advice was to jump off the platform without delay.
"I just went straight off because once you hang around for a while you think ‘What if this happens, what if that happens’."
Cromwell College and Wakatipu High School participated in the Brave Project last year and are scheduled to run the programme again later this year.
