How can we provide opportunities for the PENN crew outside of 'normal school'

Providing real life, authentic learning experiences has long been seen as valuable for children. It provides a strong purpose for the children. PENN has always had this but has become more so as it is shared on an online platform which whānau and the wider community can view. This has become even more important over the last few years, with children learning from home. 

A quote from one teacher, describing the importance of PENN during lockdown in 2021: "A constant presence on the daily to help us keep some of the normal going."

Our first opportunity for members of the PENN crew to create a purpose beyond the walls of school will happen this week. We are going to be filming a virtual visit to our school as part of a collaboration with the Digital Council for Aotearoa. This experience will provide opportunities for several videographers as well as several presenters who will provide the voice overs, commentary, lead an interview and will 'host' the virtual visitors.

The finished product will be able to be used by the digital council as well as by us for visitors to our website.

Going forward, I will need to consider how we can provide more of these opportunities to our children, particularly since one of our major external opportunities - sporting events - is not happening much at the moment.

Some opportunities which will lend itself to this:

- Te Oro - Baby Whale Tale on display
- Blake NZ-VR experience - could we get our children to organise a 'documentary style' short film which they could then utilise?
- Some community-focussed documentary style short films to learn about the amazing things happening in our community - Kereru Kidney Centre, Te Oro, Rocket Lab, Kai Collective Project, Ruapotaka Marae, Tāmaki Regeneration.
- Meet some heroes in our community - interview of local doctors, nurses, police, supermarket workers, Marsic Bros etc.

These could be fully created by the children - from videography through to post production.

Now, I know this is ambitious especially with the fact we can't even take children out into the community at the moment, but I strongly believe this would be the next step in developing the Pt England Network News to the next level. I am sure with a team behind me, we can make this happen!