Schoolgen Newsletter May 2008

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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.

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	Volume 3 May 2008 Welcome to the third Schoolgen newsletter! Schoolgen has been developed by Genesis Energy to bring solar energy to life for children across New Zealand. We're installing photovolaic systems (solar panels) on the roof of schools around New Zealand...read on to find out more!		Index: Welcome Maggie; Schoolgen in ten more schools!; Interested in becoming a Schoolgen school?; Schoolgen Assemblies; Elemental Energy; Enhancing our online presence; Fighting climate change; Feedback

	In this issue, we introduce you to Maggie, our Environmental Educator; tell you about the newest ten schools to join Schoolgen; invite Waikato schools to register their interest to be a Schoolgen school; explain how were bringing Schoolgen to life for all the children in Schoolgen schools; introduce you to the installers of our PV systems; tell you about how the Schoolgen website is changing; and explain Genesis Energys newest tool in the fight against climate change.

	Maggie Twaddle, centre, Schoogen's Environmental Educator.
		WELCOME MAGGIE TWADDLE, SCHOOLGENS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR Were thrilled to welcome Maggie to the Schoolgen team as our Environmental Educator. Maggie is an experienced teacher and primary school principal who has a passion for environmental sustainability.
	Maggie has been involved in designing school buildings and creating special school environments as a principal over the past ten years as well as developing environmental programmes in the schools she has worked in. Maggie has played a lead role in the development of the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate in New Zealand which has inquiry learning at the heart of the programme. If youre a teacher at a Schoolgen school you will be meeting Maggie soon if you havent already. Part of Maggie's role is to visit the schools taking part in Schoolgen, answer any questions and provide support. Maggie also provides a valuable liaison between schools interested in joining the programme and Genesis Energy. Any queries about the learning activities on the website or about how Schoolgen links with the new New Zealand Curriculum can be directed to Maggie - maggie.twaddle@genesisenergy.co.nz. Back to top

Vardon Primary celebrates the launch of Schoolgen at their school.

Vardon students caught up in the spirit of Schoolgen.

SCHOOLGEN IN TEN MORE SCHOOLS!

Congratulations to the following schools, who are the latest to be chosen to have a 2kW photovoltaic system installed as part of the Schoolgen programme:

Bayswater Primary School - Auckland
Henderson Valley Primary School - Auckland
Glendowie College - Auckland
St Peter Chanel Primary School - Hamilton
Vardon Primary School - Hamilton
Forest Lake Primary School - Hamilton
Maeroa Intermediate - Hamilton
Fairfield College - Hamilton
Hamilton Girls High School - Hamilton
St Pauls Collegiate - Hamilton

Were excited to be working with these schools and look forward to some great results and projects from the students over the coming years.

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		Hands up if you want to be involved with Schoolgen!
	ARE YOU PART OF A SCHOOL IN THE GREATER WAIKATO REGION AND INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SCHOOLGEN SCHOOL? Registrations of interest have opened! Make sure you register your interest now so that your school will be in the ballot for the next round of free solar panels. You can register on the website or email us at info@schoolgen.co.nz. To be considered for installation of the solar panels, a school must:
	Be a Genesis Energy customer; Be able to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability; Have an existing building that may be suitable for the PV system (planned buildings will not be considered for Schoolgen); and The application must have the support of the schools senior management and Board of Trustees. Back to top

		Students explaining electrons at the Schoolgen assembly at Vardon Primary in Hamilton.
	SCHOOLGEN ASSEMBLIES Schools that are new to Schoolgen have been hosting specially choreographed assemblies to introduce students and their school communities to the programme. Maggie, our Environmental Educator, works with students from the school who present a performance about electricity, solar energy and solar panels to their peers and teachers. The assemblies bring Schoolgen to life for all the students in the school and utilise the acting and dancing talents of the students. After the performance, students take part in classroom sessions where they learn what a solar panel looks like, how they work and where at their school they are being installed.

	Maggie leads staff meetings to ensure teachers are aware of the teaching resources available on the Schoolgen website and to provide ongoing support from Genesis Energy. Back to top

	Hamish Litten, from Elemental Energy, explaining solar panels at a Schoolgen assembly.
		ELEMENTAL ENEGRY COMES ON BOARD Genesis Energy has appointed Elemental Energy to supply and install the photovoltaic systems for the 50 schools chosen for Schoolgen. Elemental Energy will also be assisting Genesis Energy in the delivery of educational programmes to students during the installation phase of the PV systems. Elemental Energy is a leader in renewable energy, mobile power and energy efficiency for homes and businesses in New Zealand. Visit them at www.elementalenergy.co.nz.
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		The new website will be user friendly for students and teachers alike.
	ENHANCING OUR ONLINE PRESENCE The Schoolgen team has been working hard over the last couple of months to complete work on the new Schoolgen website www.schoolgen.co.nz. The new website is expected to go live at the end of June. The website is being redesigned to ensure we have the very best information for students and teachers across New Zealand. A navigation map will be added to assist visitors to find schools in New Zealand that are participating in the programme.
	New teacher and student resources, which include information about energy efficiency will be available on the new website, along with additional resources related to solar energy. These resources extend students knowledge around energy consumption in their school and their own individual carbon footprint. Like all of the existing Schoolgen resources the new energy efficiency resources have been developed to link with the new New Zealand Curriculum. Check out our new look website at the end of June. Back to top


		FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE, ONE SMALL STEP AT A TIME Genesis Energy has launched a new website to help New Zealanders, and particularly young people, help make small changes to reduce their carbon footprint. Tree People is designed to capture the imagination of children and the interest of adults through an interactive website where you can plant your own virtual native tree, forming a virtual native forest. The site encourages children and adults of New Zealand to make one pledge at a time. The more people do to help the environment, the more their tree grows.
	Visit treepeople.co.nz to find out more and start growing your own native tree and see how together we can all make a difference to tomorrow. Back to top


	FEEDBACK We really appreciate any feedback you have on Schoolgen - the programme itself, the resources that are available... anything at all. We take on board all comments we receive and were constantly updating the look and format of the programme accordingly. Please contact us with any ideas or questions you may have. Back to top