NCH 0201 Publication:NNP, Edition:NCH, Page:0201 PageType:A3Proof High resolution Typeset On PDF2001 at 10/05/2012 11:01:42 AM by RFrench Tuesday, May 15, 2012 NEWCASTLE HERALD 201 The Newcastle Herald’s School Newspaper Competition Primary entry #13 Waratah Public School REVVED UP: Levi, 5, and Xavier Rogers, 7. Picture: Blake Parsons Sprockets growing into BMX bandits By BLAKE PARSONS and JENNA HALL BMX Racing is quickly becoming a popular sport, particularly for families. It’s a sport anyone can join, with racing based on ability, not necessarily age. There are clubs throughout Australia, in the Manning Valley, Maitland, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie and Terrigal in the Hunter/Central Coast region. BMX Racing Australia offers many different memberships for different ages but a special mem- bership program for children under eight is called Sprockets. Sprockets Racing is about fun, learning to ride bikes around the track and developing racing skills. Ange Rogers’s children, Levi, 5 and Xavier, 7, participate in Sprockets at Lake Macquarie. This is Xavier’s third year and Levi’s first. Ms Rogers believes it has led to an increase in confidence for both children, and she has seen a real difference in Xavier’s social and friendship skills. This family-oriented sport also gives children the chance to get outside and ride a bike for real, rather than just experiencing it on a game console. Go to bmxaustralia.com. Brave new tech world By BENJAMIN CURREY and KAITLIN DEACON NEW AGE: Waratah students working on computers. Picture: Kaitlin Deacon STUDENTS at Waratah Public School are excited about learning in a different type of classroom, the technology class. This class offers students the opportunity to experience educa- tion from a different perspective. This is a classroom where all students have access to their own computer and can access and share information instantly. Class teacher Robyn Christie said it greatly increased the general knowledge and interest levels of students, who get a say in their learning. “There has been a huge increase in the confidence levels and inde- pendence of students in terms of learning,” Mrs Christie said. Students in the class still follow the curriculum and learn the same subjects as other classes but they show what they have learned in different ways, by using technology such as computers, cameras and iPods. Students also use different types of software and websites to help their learning; this includes learn- ing how to tell which sites are reliable and how to interact safely, respectfully and responsibly online. Students show what they have learned through movies, music, spreadsheets and graphs as well as interactive presentations. ‘‘Children are excited, enthusi- astic about their learning; the chil- dren don’t want to leave the class- room at break times,’’ principal Maria Williams said. But being in a technology class doesn’t mean that the students only work on computers. Students also write stories in their books, create artworks, parti- cipate in hands-on and group work in mathematics and science exper- iments, including seeing how long a cheese burger would last – which turned out to be a while. Books still play a very important role in the technology class, although sometimes they may be electronic books. Parents are also excited about the possibilities that the technology class gives students. ‘‘It’s hard to imagine a world future without technology playing a huge part,’’ Waratah Public School Parents and Citizens president Ver- ity Currey said. ‘‘My 12-year-old son already knows more than I do about com- puters so I feel confident he will be well prepared in the coming years to take advantage of all that the WPS technology class teaches him.’’ Save money and the environment EXPERIMENTAL: Todd Hodgson and Dallas Hayes test solar power. Picture: Ty Rickard By DALLAS HAYES and TODD HODGSON THIS is the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. One of the ways to combat rising electricity and petrol costs is the use of solar energy. As part of the Australian Government’s Renewable Energy Target (RET), solar energy is becoming much more important. Newcastle City Council’s Michelle Lindsay said that solar panels reduced fossil fuel dependency and green- house gas emissions. Solar panels are made with photovoltaic cells which col- lect light and convert it into electricity. Technology class students at Waratah Public School tested the benefits by making solar- powered cars. They found that a disad- vantage is the weather. If it is raining or overcast, the solar panels may not get any sunlight so a backup electricity source may need to be used. It also depends on the surrounding area. If there are lots of trees or large buildings the sunlight may not be able to get to the panels which then won’t provide power.