Students To Quiz World Champion Rowing Twins

Students To Quiz World Champion Rowing Twins

Students from around New Zealand will have the chance to find out what it takes to win gold when Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell take part in a Telecom SchoolZone video-conference on Monday (19 September) afternoon.

The three-time World Rowing Championship women’s double scull title winners will video-conference into eleven schools around the country to give students a personal insight into their successes and future aspirations.

The Telecom SchoolZone video-conference will link the sisters from a classroom at Nga Taiatea Wharekura in Hamilton to the following schools: Northland College (Kaikohe), Bay of Islands College (Kawakawa), Te Wharekura o Ruatoki (Whakatane), Solway College (Masterton), Springlands School (Blenheim), Amuri Area School (Culverden), Logan Park High School (Dunedin), East Otago High School (Palmerston), Roxburgh Area School (Roxburgh), Lawrence Area School (Lawrence) and Blue Mountain College (Tapanui).

Students from each school will have the opportunity to ask their sporting heroes two questions.

Caroline says it’ll be the first time they’ve used video-conferencing technology to interact with such a large group of students.

“Because of our training schedule we don’t get many opportunities to personally visit schools around the country, so this is a great way for us to meet a large number of students and maybe even encourage them to take up rowing. Hopefully they’ll go easy on us with their questions,” she said.

This is a great chance for our students to meet Caroline and Georgina after following their achievements in the news said Kay Roughan, Year 8 Form teacher at Blue Mountain College.

“They are real role models for young New Zealanders and this technology means students have the opportunity to interact with people who they respect and idolise, regardless of where they go to school," she said.

The video-conference is part of a Leaders & Heroes series developed by Telecom SchoolZone to explore how technology can push the boundaries of learning outside the classroom walls.

“Our aim is to help schools make the most of broadband video-conferencing technology and enhance their students’ learning,” said Miranda Cook, Education Portfolio Manager at Telecom.

“Telecom has supported Caroline and Georgina for many years now because they’re outstanding examples of young New Zealanders who can go right to the top through discipline and dedication. This is a great way of sharing their success and hopefully inspiring students to achieve their own goals.”

Previous Telecom SchoolZone video-conferencing events have included the All Blacks, a Red Cross aid worker who assisted with the Asian tsunami relief effort, the Prime Minister speaking about ANZAC Day commemorations and a virtual field-trip to Antarctica.

SchoolZone is a high-speed managed security network package launched by Telecom in 2003 and now adopted by more than 600 schools throughout New Zealand.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

SchoolZone is a Telecom high-speed internet security network package for schools which can include:

- A high speed Internet connection

- Flat rate pricing (within usage guidelines and expectations)

- Networked security including a managed firewall

- Safer browsing and email including content filtering

- Virus protection

- Email for staff and students

- School Intranet and personalised desktop

- Monitoring and reporting tools

- School website and student homepages (up to 100 Mb)

- Independent governance

- Videoconferencing services

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