Schools Web Challenge: Young Designers Recognised

PRESS RELEASE FRIDAY 12TH OCTOBER 2007

NEW ZEALAND'S YOUNGEST WEB DESIGNERS RECOGNISED IN 2007 TVNZ NETGUIDE SCHOOLS WEB CHALLENGE

Students share in $50,000 worth of prizes for themselves and their school.

New Zealand primary, intermediate and secondary school students were recognised today for their winning web sites in the 2007 TVNZ NetGuide Schools Web Challenge.

More than 2,800 students from around the country took part in the 7th annual Schools Web Challenge by creating their own web site based on a topic they are studying. Students compete in the Schools Web Challenge for individual, team and class prizes and are judged on their creativity, knowledge of their topic and their web site’s functionality and features.

The Prime Minister Helen Clark presented more than $50,000 in technology prizes to the winners of this year’s primary, intermediate and secondary school categories at an awards ceremony held at TVNZ’s head offices in Auckland.

The TVNZ NetGuide Schools Web Challenge is sponsored by the Ministry of Education, as well as TVNZ, Microsoft and Hewlett Packard, and is supported by teachers in schools across the country. NetGuide magazine publishes a six-part Build Your Own Web Site course to help students, teachers and schools plan and develop their web sites.

“The Web sites that were most successful engaged their audience with interactive and multimedia elements such as podcasts, embedded video and audio clips,” said NetGuide magazine Editor Jorin Sievers. “We even saw such innovations as interactive maps and creative mouse roll-over effects.”

A live stream of the Schools Web Challenge prize giving ceremony will be available at http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/1386442 on the day of the event. The winning web sites can be viewed at www.tvnznetguidewebchallenge.co.nz or by clicking on ‘Schools Web Challenge’ at www.netguide.co.nz. The winners will also appear in the November issue of NetGuide magazine on sale on Monday, October 15.

Winners and finalists in the 2007 TVNZ NetGuide Schools Web Challenge:
Primary Class Category:

Winner : “Room9ncs”
Nelson Central School
Teacher: Mrs. Rachel Boyd
Second: “Ceramics07”
Auckland Point School
Teacher: Mr. Craig Martin
Third: “Fish07"
Auckland Point School
Teacher: Mrs. Judi Hansen

Primary Team Category:

Winners: Kate Fogarty, Jack Collinson, Joel Cattell
Hauraki Primary School
Teacher: Mrs.Virginia Cattell
Second: Maxwell Scott, Connor Seddon, Meran Campbell-Hood
George Street Normal School
Teacher: Miss Leanne Hill
Third: Luka Letica, Oliver Webb-Speight, Chris Brokenshire
Ponsonby Primary
Teacher: Miss Jennipha Porter

Intermediate Team Category:

Winners: Sunny Lam, Vincent Smith, Andrew Lowe
Papatoetoe Intermediate
Teacher: Mrs. Marie Black
Second: Astha Kantroo, Haley Hetherington, Florence Leung
Baverstock Oaks School
Teacher: Mr. Ian Dickinson
Third: Chase Madson, Joel Batman, Logan Callesen
Remuera Intermediate School
Teacher: Miss Monique Russell

Intermediate Individual Category:

Winner: Nickie Macdonald
Tauranga Intermediate
Teacher: Mr. Ian Henderson
Second: Todd Herbert
Tauranga Intermediate
Teacher: Mrs. Karen Mills
Third: Jack Gilpin
Tauranga Intermediate
Teacher: Mrs. Kim McCormack

Secondary Team Category:

Winner: Dylan Neale, William Leith, Mary Fisher
Heretaunga College
Teacher: Mrs. Robyn Lassey
Second: Wade Wildbore, Keegan Bricknell, Paul Graham
Waiopehu College
Teacher: Mrs. Pam Skerman
Third: Luke Symes, Morgan Vine, Andrew Haynes
Reporoa College
Teacher: Mrs. Irene Nottage

Secondary Individual Category:

Winner: Sam Hogg
St Pauls Collegiate School
Teacher: Mr. James Hepburn
Second: Ricky Boyce
Rangiora High School
Teacher: Mr. John Creighton
Third: Joel Edwards
Heretaunga College
Teacher: Mrs. Robyn Lassey

Microsoft Supreme Creativity Award

Ricky Boyce
Rangiora High School
Teacher: Mr. John Creighton

Best Newcomer Award:

Gareth Hall
Westlake Boys High School
Teacher: Mrs. Sharon Young

TVNZ Best New Media / Interactivity Award

Joel Edwards
Heretaunga College
Teacher: Mrs. Robyn Lassey

THE JUDGES FOR 2007 WERE:

Sarah Jones - Senior Advisor e-Learning, Ministry of Education
Ryan Tarak - Academic Developer evangelist, Microsoft
Mark Copplestone - GM Digital and Interactive Sales, TVNZ
Yvonne Blanch - National Manager, 3P Learning
Russell Holland - E-vangelist, E-C Internet solutions
Jorin Sievers – Editor, NetGuide

NetGuide

NetGuide is New Zealand’s best selling technology magazine.It guides New Zealanders of all ages to the best stuff on the internet and reviews the latest advances in new technology. In addition to its annual Schools Web Challenge, NetGuide runs the annual People’s Choice NetGuide Web Awards, in which New Zealanders vote for their favourite local web sites and internet providers.

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