	Welcome to the Schoolgen newsletter, Christmas edition 2008. Schoolgen is a programme developed by Genesis Energy to bring the concepts of solar energy, sustainability and environmental awareness to life for children across New Zealand. The Schoolgen team wish you all a very happy, safe and sunny Christmas holiday! We look forward to working with you all in 2009.
			Index: 2008 highlights, Greater Waikato region installations, Schoolgen in Wellington, Schoolgen in Hawke's Bay, New Energy Efficiency resources on schoolgen.co.nz, Poster competition 2008, Westlake Girls' career day at Genesis Energy , Primary school teachers' workshop 2008, Maggie's visit to Addington Primary in Christchurch , Schoolgen students present to 200 Genesis Energy staff

2008 HIGHLIGHTS
2008 has been an exciting year for Schoolgen!

2008 has been a huge year for the Schoolgen team at Genesis Energy, and equally exciting for the 15 new schools who were selected to have solar panels installed through the programme.

By installing solar panels schools across the North Island over the last two years, Genesis Energy has helped 21 schools save a total of almost eight tonnes of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere, and we've generated over 28,000 kWh of electricity! This is a significant contribution that all Schoolgen communities can be really proud of.

This year we appointed Maggie Twaddle as Environmental Educator. Maggie is the key liaison person between all schools in New Zealand (not just those who have Schoolgen solar panels installed) who want to learn about the principles of sustainability Schoolgen advocates.

We've also revamped the Schoolgen website and have a comprehensive series of teaching resources that are available to all schools in New Zealand… free of charge! The resources cover energy efficiency, renewable energy and solar power.

We're really excited about 2009. 20 more schools are going to have panels installed, including nine in the greater Wellington region and three in Hawke's Bay. We're going to continue to work closely with all the schools involved with Schoolgen through competitions, a Schoolgen sister school programme and teacher workshops.

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	Installations completed at Greater Waikato Schools Solar panel installation underway at Mercury Bay Area School. The five Greater Waikato schools which have had solar panels installed are Te Kowhai School, Matamata Primary School, Taupo nui-a-tia College, Raglan Area School and Mercury Bay Area School. The completion of the Greater Waikato installations brings the total number of schools participating in Schoolgen to 21. To see how much electricity these schools are generating from the sun go to each school's specially designed page on the Schoolgen website. Each new school launched Schoolgen with specially choreographed assemblies featuring enthusiastic, creative students teaching their fellow classmates key facts about solar power and renewable energy. The panel installers spent time talking to students at each school about how the panels generate electricity from the sun. A staff meeting dedicated to the Schoolgen programme ensures teachers have the latest information at their fingertips and are comfortable accessing teaching resources from schoolgen.co.nz. Every aspect of the programme is facilitated by Maggie Twaddle, our Environmental Educator. Back to top

Newsflash! Schoolgen is landing in the capital!
Students from Room 11 at Douglas Park are excited to have Schoolgen coming to their school after their successful application.

Welcome to the schools from Greater Wellington who have been successful in their Schoolgen applications. In early 2009, solar panels will be installed on Douglas Park School (Masterton), Muritai School (Lower Hutt), Eastern Hutt School (Lower Hutt), Paremata School (Paremata), Raphael House (Rudolph Steiner School, Upper Hutt), Clifton Terrace Model School (Wellington City), Paraparaumu College (Paraparaumu), Plateau School (Upper Hutt), and Wadestown School (Wellington City).

We'd particularly like to mention the fantastic effort from the students at Douglas Park School who showed excellent leadership and initiative preparing their Schoolgen application with little help from their teacher. Congratulations Room 11!

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Schoolgen in Hawke's Bay
Schoolgen is coming to sunny Hawke's Bay.

We are finalising the selection of three Hawke's Bay schools who will have solar panels installed between March and May 2009. We look forward to updating you with this announcement in our first newsletter next year.

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Schoolgen in YOUR classroom

15 brand new Energy Efficiency teacher and student resources are available to be downloaded from the Schoolgen website for every single school across New Zealand... for free!

The new Energy Efficiency resources include eight teacher-led activities, four student enquiries and three student fact sheets. The resources cover all learning levels and complement the original Schoolgen Solar Energy resources which are also available on the website.

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By Sunhee Cho, Westlake Girls High School.
Poster competition 2008

Genesis Energy challenged students from the four Auckland secondary schools participating in Schoolgen to create their own Schoolgen posters to communicate messages about solar energy, climate change and energy efficiency. The winners are Ye-Jin Park, Marie Valencia and Sunhee Cho (Westlake Girls High School) along with Eddie Gee and Holly Quinn (Northcote College). The winners are to be rewarded with a trip to Rakino Island in the Hauraki Gulf, to visit a house that is completely powered by solar energy. On the trip, students will learn about how other forms of renewable energy can sustainably generate electricity for houses.

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Westlake Girls High School career day

As part of our commitment to students at Schoolgen schools, we invited 16 year 10 students from Westlake Girls High School to Genesis Energy's head office in Auckland. The students attended presentations from female employees who work in different roles at Genesis Energy, including environmental strategy and policy, administration, corporate social responsibility, sales and marketing and public affairs. The presenters told the students what their roles involve and the path taken to get to this point in their careers. The girls had an opportunity to ask questions, and the group mingled over lunch at the end of the presentations.

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Maggie's visit to Addington Primary School, Christchurch
Students from Addington Primary School presenting a Schoolgen assembly.

Although the solar panels component of Schoolgen is not available to schools in the South Island, we are committed to assisting all schools in New Zealand on their journey to learn about renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Maggie Twaddle, Schoolgen's Environmental Educator, recently spent two days with Addington Primary School in Christchurch. Maggie worked with each class to increase children's awareness about solar energy, hosted a staff meeting to share information about Schoolgen teaching resources and helped students develop their own version of the Schoolgen assembly which they performed for their peers. Addington Primary won the opportunity for Maggie to visit at the New Zealand Primary Principal's Association Conference.

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Primary school teachers' workshop hosted by Genesis Energy
Primary and intermediate teachers at the Schoolgen workshop at Huntly Power Station.

On 20 October, 33 teachers from primary and intermediate Schoolgen schools attended a workshop at Huntly Power Station. The aim of the workshop was to increase teachers' knowledge of the Schoolgen website, the resources that are available and how to get the best out of them. We also discussed energy issues in New Zealand and how solar panels work. The workshop concluded with the group being taken on a tour of Huntly Power Station.

Genesis Energy will repeat this workshop for secondary Schoolgen teachers in March 2009. For further information please email katie.jones@genesisenergy.co.nz.

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Schoolgen students teach Genesis Energy
Students visiting Huntly Power Station after their presentation to Genesis Energy staff.

In August, something of a role reversal occurred with students from Fairfield College, Silverdale Primary and Vardon Primary performing for over 200 Genesis Energy staff to show off what Schoolgen has taught them. From information about solar energy and other forms of renewable electricity generation to a Q&A session with Genesis Energy's departing chief executive. Genesis Energy staff were very impressed to see Schoolgen making such an impact on young people's lives.

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	© Copyright 2008 Genesis Energy This information has been compiled by Genesis Energy for information purposes only. While reasonable endeavours have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, Genesis Energy does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information. Genesis Energy does not accept any liability or responsibility for any error, inaccuracy or omission in the information or for the use of such information by any person for any purpose. The Ministry for the Environment does not necessarily endorse or support the content of the publication in any way.