Twenty $1,000 grants up for grabs

Unisys NZ has opened applications for Unisys Kidz Connect 2009.

Unisys Kidz Connect is a NZ-wide grant programme designed to support connection and innovation amongst primary and intermediate children.

Under the programme, launched last year, up to 20 teachers will each receive a $1,000 cash grant to spend on a programme or project of their choice for the benefit of children in their class.

Each teacher has autonomy to choose how to spend the grant money, as long as it demonstrates the theme of connection and innovation.

The programme is open to all registered teachers working in NZ’s state and integrated primary and intermediate schools (year 1-8), of any decile and location.

In 2008 17 grants were awarded benefiting around 1,500 students who took part in a wide variety of projects from art projects to on-line language exchanges and even dragon’s den programmes.

“We were blown away by the creativity and passion for teaching demonstrated by last year’s Unisys Kidz Connect grant winners,” says Terry Shubkin, head of operations, Unisys NZ, and head of the Unisys Kidz Connect Advisory Board.

“We believe the ability to innovate and make new connections are skills that make a real difference to our industry and to the success of NZ. They are the behaviours we seek to practice in our own company.

“We want to encourage these behaviours from a young age – why wait until high school or university to teach innovation and communication?

“If children are exposed to these behaviours and concepts at an early age they are likely to continue to embrace them throughout their education,” adds Ms Shubkin.

“We have some very talented teachers in NZ but they don’t always have the funds to make their ideas happen. Unisys Kidz Connect means thousands of kids will get to participate in innovative projects that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible.”

Applications are judged by an Advisory Board made up of three registered teachers, one Unisys executive and one external consultant.

The Advisory Board assesses applications by the project’s innovation and creativity, and its ability to foster connection between students and others.

Success criteria for the grant are also linked back to Unisys core operating principles, team for speed (co-operation and teamwork), invent the future (forward-thinking and originality) and be bold (risk-taking and daring).

Applications must be submitted by 1st May. Full information including application forms and terms and conditions are available on the Unisys Kidz Connect website at www.unisys.com/kidzConnect.

The 2008 winning teachers were from diverse schools covering the expanse of NZ, from Whangarei (Northland) to Lawrence (Central Otago).

The teachers represented schools from cities, provincial towns and isolated country areas.
Popular themes included sustainability, languages and entrepreneurship.

Some successful entries from Unisys Kidz Connect 2008 include:

Billy Edwards – Video of original rock song – Pahoia School in rural Bay of Plenty, involving students from years 5-6.

This extension project for gifted students involved a school band, Pahoia United, that had performed its own version of popular songs and made a number of recordings. In 2008 it released a CD of an original song, Run. Pahoia United used the Unisys Kidz Connect grant to make a music video to accompany the CD. Pahoia United is on-line at www.pahoiaunited.com

Amanda Signal – Language exchange with Australian class – Elm Park School in South Auckland, involving year five students.

Digital tools for teaching Aussie kids Maori – who then taught the Kiwis Chinese. The class received Chinese language lessons planned and taught by similar aged Australian students. The class in return planned lessons and taught the Australian class basic Te Reo, using digital tools such as Skype.

Billie-Jean Potaka – Interactive art display – Nga Iwi School in South Auckland, involving students from years 1-6.

This extension project for gifted students produced an interactive display, using visual art and digital technologies, for Maori Language Week. Auckland International Airport hosted the exhibition of the project, meaning everyone entering NZ during Maori Language Week could see the display and it was a finalist in Maori Language Week Awards.

Monique Russell – A pedal powered pre-fab – Remuera Intermediate in Auckland, involving year seven and eight students.

Students measured the energy requirements of an average pre-fab classroom and built a human powered generator which created a charge that could be stored in batteries and used to power lights, computers and other classroom needs.

Tania McNamara – “Starting School” DVD by new entrants for next year’s new entrants – Lawrence Area School in Central Otago, involving new entrants.

The DVD was conceived as a way for the current year’s new entrants to help next year’s batch – and their families – prepare for starting school. It involved the children’s reflections on what it was like to start school, including how school is different from pre-school, what happens at play time and lunch time, what happens in the playground and people you’ll meet.