Here comes SchoolsInc!

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

DATE July 30, 2004

Move aside The Larry King Show because here comes SchoolsInc!

The SchoolsInc Television programme, all about the activities of 11 schools on The Tamaki Edge, recently scooped a total winner by securing a 20 minute interview with Whale Rider star Keisha Castle Hughes. Keisha's agent, Graham Dunster, kindly agreed and the interview was arranged to take place at the Aotea Centre during The Storylines Festival in which Keisha was participating.

Seteita, an 8-year-old schoolgirl from Tamaki Primary was chosen to conduct the interview. "It was the best day in my whole life, said Seteita, I was a little nervous at first but Keisha was so kind. She made me feel relaxed and even gave me a big cuddle afterwards."

The interview will form part of the programmes regular segment called, "Take me to your Leader", where role models, student leaders, principals and Board of Trustee members share their vision for the local schools with the community. The SchoolsInc programme which began as a 15-minute production now enjoys a half hour slot on Triangle TV every Wednesday evening from 7.30pm - 8pm during the school term. The programme, which forms part of The Tamaki Achievement Pathway communication strategy, seeks to contribute to raising student achievement by building the connections between the school and the home.

"The interview was a wonderful opportunity for a pupil from our community to interview Keisha with questions that children would like to ask. Keisha is an incredible role model for our students and this is heightened by the fact that she lives locally," says Rob Munnik, producer of the show and Pathway facilitator.

Regular segments on the programme include a 3-minute promotional snapshot of each of the contributing schools, interesting lessons, Book Reviews, sport, school outings and cultural events. During an "advert" segment important values based messages on fire safety, hygiene, healthy eating, bullying, dental care and even the detrimental effects of transience on children's education are explored.

The programmes focus is soon to sharpen to include coverage of the implementation of the new Curriculum Continuum for writing which was designed by local teachers under the facilitation of The Tamaki Achievement Pathway - a schooling improvement initiative set in place by local principals and Board of Trustee members in partnership with the ministry of education.

"Evidence suggests that children whose parents have an understanding of good pedagogical practice are more likely to achieve better. This is perhaps due to the fact that parents are then more able to support their children's learning" says Robby Munnik, "The programme endeavours to showcase the good teaching practice happening within our cluster of schools."

The SchoolsInc programme recently received a huge financial boost from The Mt. Wellington Charitable Trust who approved an application for $42 000 to cover a years broadcast cost, advertising, t- shirts, caps, and an editing suite. The Auckland City Council has also got behind this innovative project by donating $7000 to purchase a computer to be used for editing the programme and a terms broadcasting costs" We are incredibly grateful for the financial support and confidence The Trust and Auckland City Council have placed in the SchoolsInc programme and ultimately in the education of our children.

So for all the all the SchoolsInc fans out there if you've ever wondered what's Keisha's favourite lolly, if she has to do homework or what it's really like to learn all those movie lines or perhaps the special message she has for the kids of the Tamaki, this interview with Keisha is certainly not one to be missed. This SchoolsInc special is scheduled to go to air on Wednesday 11 August at 7.30pm - the fourth week of the third school term.

Triangle Television is Auckland's only regional, non-commercial television station and has operated as a public broadcaster to Greater Auckland since August 1 1998. The channel screens a mix of regional-access television with international news and information programmes. It is non-profit making and operates with no funding from NZ on Air. Triangle broadcasts 24 hours daily from UHF channel 41.

ENDS

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