Further Learning
The Schoolgen team tries to provide extra learning opportunities for students to inspire their interest in solar and other forms of renewable energy. If your school is a Schoolgen school please contact either Katie Jones or Maggie Twaddle to discuss any ideas you may have.
Gifted and talented programmes
Many Schoolgen schools are using the programme as part of their Gifted and Talented requirement. Gifted and talented learners are those with exceptional abilities relative to most other people, that very often require different learning opportunities and may need emotional and social support to realise their potential.
Silverdale School have a Schoolgen team of 12 students from years 5,6 &7, selected as part of their Gifted and Talented programme.
These students are taking a lead role with the whole school learning about solar energy and communicating this to other students.
This group has been empowered to go forward in 2010 to lead the school into a programme to increase awareness of solar energy and its uses in our community. The students are also planning to develop ways they can reduce the carbon footprint of the school.
Realise the Dream Student Presentation
Realise the Dream, proudly supported by Genesis Energy, is a prestigious six day event which celebrates extraordinary students who have shown excellence in science and research.
As part of the 2009 event, Genesis Energy held a workshop which required students to design an "energy system for the future". Experts from Genesis Energy gave presentations to teams of students on different forms of electricity generation so the students understood the pro's and con's of each
type of generation technology and fuel.
To complete the circle for student learning, students from Realise the Dream presented their ideas for an energy system of the future to Genesis Energy's Executive management team.
Hau Nui Wind Farm
Students from Room 11 at Douglas Park School in Masterton were treated to an end of year trip in December 2008 by the Schoolgen Team to Genesis Energy's Hau Nui Wind Farm. This trip was to reward the fantastic effort from the students in Room 11 who showed excellent leadership and initiative preparing their Schoolgen application with little help from their teacher. Congratulations Room 11!
Schoolgen students present to Genesis Energy staff
In August 2008, 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.
Schoolgen Rakino Island Trip
10 lucky students from Northcote College and Westlake Girls High School visited Rakino Island on Friday 13th 2009 February as the prize for the 2008 Schoolgen Poster Competition.
Rakino Island is located in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf. The island is not connected to the national electricity grid so all houses must be totally self sufficient in terms of electricity generation. This provided an excellent opportunity for the students to see real examples of solar energy in action! Rakino Island had the world's first solar powered public telephone.
