Springston School

Last term, students were given a challenge - to create a short video to show what being a Springston A+ student means for them. Inspired by the movie 'Mankind is no Island' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrDxe9gK8Gk), the video was to have photos or short video clips of words found around the home or community. When the photos of words were put together they would make sentences or a poem, explaining what being a Springston A+ Learner means. The videos could be made at home or at school - students could enter on their own, or with friends or family members. We have had 6 entries, from 11 students, and they have done an amazing job! For many, this was their first effort using the Flip video camera, or doing any video work, let alone making their own movie. Entries were judged on how well the video expressed the characteristics of a Springston A+ learner, the use of words and images to describe the ideas, as well as the creative and innovative ways of presenting the ideas. The number of original images used, the quality of their photography/video work, and the inclusion of appropriate music, were also considered. And now, we have our winners! You can access the videos of all the entrants at our Springston School News Blog (http://springstonschoolnews.blogspot.com/). Here is the winning entry, from Oliver and Billy (Year 6 students).

Some of the Icebreakers (Year 3 and 4 students) have also created a video called 'I Am Everyone'. The same as for Room 4, they were inspired by the YouTube Video of the same name. After seeing the video, the children realised that they become a little part of everyone around them, or of the things that happen to them, or even of their pets or toys. They wanted to create their own video, so some of them brought photos to school and were able to record their favourite ideas into iMovie 09 to create this video. We'd love to hear your comments, below, on WHO or WHAT has made YOU who you are?........ I am...........?

Room 4 students (Year 2 and 3) have created a video called 'I Am Everyone'. They were inspired by a YouTube Video of the same name (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI_cRXoBaoY). After seeing the video, the children realised that they become a little part of everyone around them, or of the things that happen to them, or even of their pets or toys. They wanted to create their own video, so some of them brought photos to school and were able to record their favourite ideas into iMovie 09 to create this video. We hope you enjoy it, and also reflect on who YOU are. 1:29 minutes, mpeg-4 file

The vision for our school identifies the qualities we believe our students need in order to be confident, connected, actively involved learners for life. An A+ student at Springston has the following qualities: they are self-managing learners, adventurous, accepting, articulate and adaptable - A+! To start this year off, teachers were given a task to represent these ideas in a movie, using words that were videoed or photographed around the town. It was quite a challenge! Here is Carol's effort. Follow the words carefully to see how she sees the challenges for Springston students in today's world. 3:12 minutes, 3.7 MB m4v file.

Kachina (Year 7) and Jahna (Year 6) are two investigators who have made a movie to show what an evil epidemic like the Black Death could do if you are not ready. This movie will tell you how to be prepared. So listen and learn what they have to share. Special thanks to Morgan P for being a great Filmer, actor and a wonderful editor. We couldn't have done it without you! 2:49 minutes, 7.4 MB, mpeg-4 movie

Jack (Year 7) made this slideshow about how to keep alive in the outdoors, for his inquiry. 0:50 seconds, 397 KB, .m4v file

Hello I am Milly and I am a Year 8 at Springston School. For my inquiry I had to answer the question ‘Why do people smoke and what are the effects of smoking?’ I researched this and then made my podcast to try to convince people not to smoke. I hope you like my podcast! 3:56 minutes, 2.2MB, AAC file

On Tuesday 27 October, a Civil Defence Exercise was held at the school. Izaac has used iPhoto to put together this slideshow showing some of the people 'injured' during the 'disaster', and how they were rescued and assisted by the Fire Brigade and the Red Cross. 1:42 minutes, 17MB, m4v file.

Students in Room 6 have started to learn Spanish. Morgan and Kachina (both Year 7 students) decided to record a podcast about some of the interesting things they have found out about Spanish, so far. Other students have been working on Spanish podcasts too, so look back again soon to see what they can teach you! Do let us know if you are learning a language at school (leave us a comment). Are you learning Spanish? 1:30 minutes, 4.5 MB, .m4v file.

Emma-Rose, Morgan and Kachina (all Year 7 students) interview students from around Springston School for their 'all new country news programme'. Go with them and find out what great things are being achieved at Springston School this year, and enjoy the unique humour they put into this news bulletin! 4:53 minutes, 5.5 MB, .mov file

Courtney and Sion (Year 6), from the Media Team, introduce us to the team of students who make up Springston School's Student Council. Find out about the projects the Council has been working on this year. They'd love to hear back from other student councils and share ideas - please post them a comment. Perhaps they could Skype with you? 3:26 minutes, 3.9 MB, .mov file

Hannah (Year 6) and Emily (Year 7) interview students around Springston School about the inventions they have been working on. 'Let's Get Inventing' is our theme for the term - to make something which makes life easier for others. 2:11 minutes, 2.6 MB, mpeg-4 video file

Emma-Rose and Morgan (both Year 7 students) are your hosts as they discuss some of the changes that have happened around our school so far this year. Classes have been inquiring into how to bring about change at school - let's see how it's been going. Look back again soon for an update from these girls! 4:18 minutes, 14.8 MB, .mov file

Room 3 recently held it's Barrow and Bark Day. This was the culminating activity for their Inquiry this term into what they could change at school for the better. The children decided to cover the gardens in the car park area with bark, to tidy up the area and look after the plants. All around were children working cooperatively to fill barrows, problem-solving to work out how to push the barrows through the gravel and puddles, and encouraging others when it got a bit cold and damp. They are just one of the classes at school working hard to make changes to the school environment. This slide show was put together by two members of the Media Team - Sion and Courtney (Year 6). 1:42 minutes, 2.5 MB, .mov file

Springston students enjoy a regular 'Wheels Day'. Taylor and Emily explain how this works. Do send them a comment if you have a Wheels Day at your school! 1:29 minutes, 740 KB, mp3

Ashley's fable shows how delaying tactics may be useful. 1:19 minutes, 1.3 MB, mp3

Hannah S. tells this interesting story, involving some puppies. 1:00 minutes, 940 KB, mp3

This fable is retold by Hannah B., age 13. This story is about how to overcome the problem of bullying. 1:47 minutes, 1.7 MB, mp3

Amy-Leigh, age 11, retells this fable. Listen to the story, and see if you can figure out the moral before you hear it at the end. 1:08 minutes, 1.1 MB, mp3

Year 7 and 8 students have been retelling Aesop's Fables into a modern context. For sharing, some students have recorded their stories into Garageband and added sound effects and music. This first story is told by Henry, age 13. 0:55 minutes, 859.2 KB, mp3

Aimee and Georgia did the filming and photography for this movie. If you have a pet dog or a pet cat, you'll especially enjoy this episode. But also view the movie to see some of the other pets shown at Springston School's Pet Day this year. 8:46 minutes, 12.8 MB, Quicktime Movie file (.mov)

Each year, Springston School has its Pet Day. Students bring along animals for judging. There are many different categories. Pet Day is a much-loved event in many New Zealand country schools. This video is Part 1, showing several of the events, Part 2 is to follow. We'd love to hear your comments about this video, made by Kayla and Hannah, and to find out whether you have Pet Day at your school! 2:52 minutes, 3.3 MB, Quicktime file (.mov)

Students have been learning about the animal world this term. Some senior students (Years 5-8) have chosen an animal, and used Kid Pix to draw it in its natural environment. Students were then photographed against a 'green' screen, and their photos put together with their drawing in Keynote. The alpha key tool was then used to merge them into the drawing with their animal. We hope you enjoy the result (apologies for the quality of the photos in this compressed file), and thanks to S. Taylor at Whakarongo School, New Zealand, for sharing the ideas on how to do this, at the recent ULearn08 Conference. 2:20 minutes, 2.7 MB, Quicktime Movie file (.mov)

Adam interviews his Nana, Pam Hall, about primary school in the late 1940s. This episode is the last in our Oral History series – we hope you have enjoyed them all! What have you learned about primary school days in the past? Are things very different now? 7:19 minutes, 5.1 MB, mp3.

Zak interviews his Nana, Jocelyn Baird. Jocelyn went to primary school in the early 1950s. 10:11 minutes, 7 MB mp3.

Kachina interviews her Great-Grandmother, Gladys Morris, in another of our Oral Histories. This interview is another that investigates memories of primary school in the 1930s and early 1940s. Listen to what happened one day when a boy got the strap! 5:08 minutes, 4.8 MB, mp3.

In this Oral History, Shania interviews her Grandfather, Bill Andrews, about his memories of primary school in the late 1930s and early 1940s in Christchurch, New Zealand. 6:32 minutes, 6 MB, mp3

Ms Singleton’s Room 5 students (Years 5 and 6, ages 9 and 10) have been learning about the past, and have discussed some of the ways in which we can preserve the past. Some of them have been able to look more closely at oral history, and have decided to record some of the stories of their own grandparents. They were most interested to find out about life at primary school for their grandparents and as a group developed some questions, and put them into a logical sequence. They practised their interviewing skills and learnt how to use an mp3 recorder, and Garageband on the school’s Macbooks. Then away they went with the recorders to carry out their interviews with their grandparents. Back at school they recorded their intros and outros, edited the recordings they had made, and chose some appropriate music to tie it all together. As a result, they have five oral history interviews to share with you. These will be released here on Podomatic one at a time, over the next few weeks (and the grandparents interviewed will also receive a CD with their interview). We’d love you to listen to these precious stories. The grandparents interviewed are a range of ages. How was school different for our grandparents, and how was it the same as it is today? We are very grateful to the grandparents who allowed themselves to be interviewed – they have told some marvellous stories. And, didn’t the students do well too! This was their first opportunity to do real interviews with people, and here is their work, published online for everyone to share. Our first interview is conducted by Lucy, who interviews her Grandpa, Harold Johnstone. This interview was conducted by telephone. 4:12 minutes, 4.1 MB, mp3.

Ryan, Libby and Scott have made a report on the senior school's visit to hear the New Zealand Army Band. 1:57 minutes, 1.8MB, AAC/m4a (Originally uploaded 18 June 2007

A PMI (de Bono's Plus, Minus and Interesting thinking tool) reflection about podcasting and how it helps develop oral language. After participating in an online conference, Time4 Online, where educators in a workshop have been discussing how podcasting can help extend oral language, and considering whether there are different benefits between scripting or speaking ad lib in a podcast, I thought I'd ask my students what they thought. This podcast was created by a group who have created one podcast of their own already this term (see the 3 episodes prior to this one). I put them on the spot somewhat to create this one! 10:19 minutes, 9.7MB (Originally uploaded 4 June 2007)

Milly and Libby want to tell you about the music lessons you can have at Springston School. They put their interviewing skills to work in this podcast. 5:11 minutes, 2.4MB. (Originally uploaded 4 June 2007)

Springston School students Charlotte and Caitlin have put together a podcast featuring a QUIZ to test your knowledge on our school! 1:23 minutes, 1.2MB (Originally uploaded 16 May 2007)