Sailing has proved to be an excellent boost of morale and discipline for a very special group of Spice Valley Middle School children.

The WaterWise education programme, which was held on White's Island recently, was pioneered by Gus Miller, a former coach of the Bermuda Pan Am sailing team.

Mr. Miller, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Bermuda Sailing Association, believed there was an urgent need for Bermuda's children to learn the value of water sports and water safety.

Spice Valley Middle School was chosen to pilot a four day programme and the plan is to incorporate it into all middle schools on the Island as part of the water requirement of the students' physical education programme.

"This helps the kids learn about themselves as well as the water,'' Mr.

Miller said. "It's been great to see how much these particular kids have gotten out of it.'' The goal of the WaterWise programme is to help give children in the middle school system a better appreciation of the water.

The programme combines classroom teaching and preparation as well as direct participation in activities such as canoeing, sailing, powerboat safety and first aid.

Spice Valley Middle school physical education teacher Darrin Lewis agreed that the need for children to learn water safety and water sport activities was invaluable to their growth.

Mr. Lewis said the students have participated in simulated sailing exercises on dry land and have impressed him on how quickly they have grasped the sailing concepts.

"Basically this is a pilot programme,'' he said. "We started practising on Tuesday and we've had sailboats rigged with wheels so that they could get a feel for what it was like on the water. We found that there was a great team effort.'' Mr. Lewis said there was an extra incentive for him pushing this programme for the youngsters.

"Personally, I love the water,'' he said, "but I never sailed until I was 30. I feel that Bermudians are in a situation where we can develop a lot more sailors at a higher level, if we get them started at an early age...we're in a perfect situation surrounded by water.'' Spice Valley Middle School's learning support teacher Anna Mary McIlwain noted the children in the programme are a special group, who have at times been challenged academically.

Ms McIlwain marvelled in their improvement of attentiveness and focus while in the programme.

"It's been really difficult for them to concentrate,'' she said. "You can see their self confidence growing and growing. It's a sense of empowerment for them. We wanted to do something to hook the kids and motivate them to stay in school. Right now they're really feeling successful, and they've never had that feeling before.'' Ms McIlwain warned however that she hoped the students go into the summer vacation period holding on to what they have learned in the programme.

She noted that it was easy for the children to get caught up in reverting back to their old ways.

But Ms McIlwain said she believed the "seed has been planted'' for them to continue their interest in water activities.

"Summer's coming,'' she said. "They'll be back in the same environment that created this in the first place but I am encouraged because there are some students that have signed up for the summer sailing programme. If they can continue in the sailing programme, then that will benefit them. It's a good extra curricular activity that beats hanging out on the wall.'' Clint Smith, education officer of physical education, health and athletics, worked tirelessly to get Ministry support for the programme.

"The aquatic programme of physical education has been lacking for many years,'' he said. "Only now has it become an integral part of the middle school curriculum.

"This is strongly supported by the Ministry of Education. This trip today was worth it, because they really respond to Gus. It's good because he rides them hard.'' The students have also expressed excitement in the programme and have noticed an improvement in learning hands on skills.

Thirteen-year-old Desai Smith said: "We've learned in three days what the summer camp people learn in two weeks! It's really fun and it helps prepare you for the water.'' Precious Stafford, 14, added: "It's really been interesting. This has shown me that I can really do something if I put my mind to it.'' Perhaps the greatest praise came from Spice Valley principal Patricia Holder, when she expressed her amazement at the teamwork, concentration and effort her M3 students put into the programme.

"I'm really impressed,'' she said enthusiastically. "I've never seen them so focused on what they are doing. They are so positive, I don't hear them saying `I can't do this, I can't do that'. We will be adopting this programme, and I encourage other schools, because it builds self confidence and it shows the importance of team work.'' Rigging the sails: Spice Valley Middle School teachers join in to help rig the sail boats. Learning support teacher Mitchell Deshields (left) and physical education teacher Darrin Lewis (right) are seen folding up sails.

Job well done: Spice Valley Middle School children gathered with WaterWise instructor Gus Miller (outside left). The students took part in a four day water safety programme that will soon become mandatory in all middle schools.