Latest news from E4E

E4E  expands

The addition of a second contract between New Zealand Trade & Enterprise and Development West Coast has provided the opportunity to bring five new schools into the cluster. This brings the total number of West Coast cluster schools involved in E4E experiences to 14.  These new schools have completed the first stage of professional development with new advisor Paul Cathro.

A key feature of E4E is the emphasis it places on schools developing meaningful partnerships with individuals, businesses and groups within their communities. Students benefit through the chance to experience hands-on learning. To find about more E4E projects click on the following links:

Reefton Area School E4E Activities

Please click here to view some of the E4E activities, Reefton Area School have participated in this year.

Eco bags for Ecotourism NZ Conference

Tai Poutini Polytechnic recently engaged Westland High, Buller High and South Westland Area Schools in an E4E project. Their task was to design and create bags, incorporating ecotourism concepts, for the 150 delegates attending the annual 2008 Ecotourism NZ Conference in Greymouth.

Year 11 Technology students from Buller High chose to research the conference's key note speakers and created a unique bag for each of them.

This project was the first E4E project involving multiple schools and classroom activity. This collaborative approach is both a unique and exciting way to bring West coast students together to complete a regional task.

Tasty treats for Ecotourism NZ Conference

The E4E project also helped Reefton Area School year 9 students become involved in the Ecotourism NZ Conference.

The students made tasty chocolate truffles for delegates at the 2008 Ecotourism NZ Conference. 

Students researched the truffle's ingredients to ensure they complied with fair trade guidelines or were sourced from within New Zealand.  Recycled packaging was also used to produce a truly environmentally-friendly treat.

Towering success

Westland High School students have spent the past two terms working with Simon Eyre, Design Engineer for the Westland District Council, to develop concept plans for the lookout structure at Hokitika’s Sunset Point.

Simon has been working with the students on a weekly basis in the classroom and in the field.

The students presented their final designs to Simon at the Westland District Council board room.  All plans had to comply with Council regulations and address vandalism, health and safety issues as well as being aesthetically pleasing. This project allowed the students to gain NCEA credits.

Karoro Learning students become role models for Blaketown School pupils

Karoro learning students have swapped roles to become the teacher. During term two they researched drawing techniques and designed a series of art lessons which they then taught to room four students at Blaketown School. 

Both the Karoro students and Blaketown students benefited greatly from this relationship.  Karoro students developed their key competencies, improved their communication skills and gained credits towards NZCEA.  They enjoyed the interaction with the younger students and felt that they had a great deal to offer as role models to these young people. 

Greymouth High Students recreate Chinese yokes

Two Greymouth High students are using their furniture-making skills to recreate authentic Chinese yokes for the education unit at Shantytown.

The age of the original yoke means there are no design plans available for the students. They needed to apply their enterprising skills and attributes, while designing and constructing the replica yokes.

Teacher Lorna Lay Flurrie said, “The new yokes will be worn by visiting school pupils, as they experience life as an early Chinese settler.”

Eco-weed matting

Eco-friendly Runanga School students are exploring a creative way to dispose of the school's waste paper - eco-friendly weed matting.

In an E4E relationship, South Westland Area School students have been busy researching, designing and creating prototype drying frames for the weed mats which will be trialled by the Runanga students this term. 

 Project-based learning allows students to acquire 21st century skills
in the context of real-world scenarios

West Coast NZ
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