School Life
BYOD at Cambridge Primary School
Cambridge Primary School acknowledges that the 21st Century is increasingly complex, global and networked. A ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) programme supports our tamariki to develop the skills and dispositions required to succeed in modern classrooms. The NZ Curriculum reflects this need with a strong focus on promoting digitally capable, global citizens.
Through the use of e-learning tools, we are aiming to create motivated, self-directed learners who know learning can happen anywhere, anytime. Children can access their learning independently, know the different places where they can get help, can show what they have learned and reflect on that.
The children in all Hillary and Rutherford classes have GAFE (Google) accounts to access, store, create and reflect on their learning from both school and home. Each child will be able to share their learning progress with their families. The school has some devices in the classrooms, but we strongly encourage students to bring their own device as they then have flexible access to their learning at home and at school.
Why Bring Your Own Device? What are the advantages?
BYOD allows students to use their own device that is set up to their specifications, for their learning. This has many benefits, including:
enabling students to take increasing responsibility for their own learning and know their device
empowering students to learn at a pace, place and in a way that suits them
teaches students what tools can be used and how to discern what tool will best help with their learning
tailoring the device to the student user
Our preferred devices are Chromebooks for all Hillary and Rutherford classes : (Year 3 - 6 students.)
Why a Chromebook?
Price - the majority of Chromebooks cost significantly less than your average laptop
They are generally more durable than tablets and most Mac and PC laptops
Have a long battery life of 6+ hours
Fewer security issues, with built-in virus and malware protection
Simpler technical support, most issues are resolved with a restart or settings reset
General Chromebook Requirements
Minimum screen size of 11 inches
Battery life of 6+ hours
4GB of RAM
Fixed keyboard
Protective hard-case
Google Chrome Operating System
Recommended Chromebook
We recommend our local Noel Leeming who offer education prices. Please see BYOD website and Brochure recommendations: www.noelleeming.co.nz/c/byod
If you would like further assistance, please contact the office or email: carmel@cambridgeprimary.co.nz
Challenge & Extension Programme
At Cambridge Primary School we offer a Challenge and Extension Programme to Year 5 and 6 children. There is a process for selection. This begins with a parent or teacher nomination through this Parent Nomination Form .
Next, the Challenge and Extension Teacher discusses names with classroom teachers and follows up for any clarity with parents.
There are two intake opportunities for the Challenge and Extension program—one in Term 1 and the second in Term 3. The class currently operates for a full day on a Monday. If your child is selected, they are expected to be able to make up any extra learning they have missed in their classroom program.
There is usually one focus per term, including social responsibility, technology design, kaitiakitanga (guardianship), leadership, matauranga (analytical and systems thinking), ethics and politics. Learning is demonstrated through passion projects, group projects, and workshops led by external providers plus there are regular lessons in class team building, problem solving, philosophy and current affairs exposure.
Kapa Haka
Our Kapa Haka group is open to all children on Friday afternoon. The group performs at various times throughout the year including the following: grandparent’s day, Cambridge cultural festival and our end-of-year formal prize giving.
Here are some pictures of the group performing at the Cambridge Primary School Prizegiving.
Enviroschools
What is Enviroschools?
Enviroschools is a growing network of schools and communities in New Zealand and internationally that want to make a positive difference in our environment. Schools create an environmental pathway and then move along that chosen path. Each school starts from a unique place and has a different journey.
The Enviroschools Programme is a unique sustainability journey that is being undertaken by over 950 early childhood education centres and schools in New Zealand.
Through exploration and discovery, tamariki and students develop learning and language, care and creativity, relationships, and responsibilities suited to their developmental stage. A connection with nature and a sense of belonging to the environment and community emerges.
Through these connections with the environment, tamariki can consider the world we live in and consider how we make decisions to improve the physical and social environment of our places, our community, and our world.
Cambridge Primary School is an Enviroschool
Cambridge Primary School is proud to be a Green-Gold Enviroschool with students and staff involved in learning for sustainability and taking action for the environment. We continue to measure and minimise our waste and understand our impact on the earth’s resources. Our students take part in a variety of projects, including pest tracking and trapping, composting and gardening. We have a number of environment-related groups at school that students can take part in.
Cambridge Primary embraces and celebrates the cultural diversity of the people in our school. Our staff continue to deepen their knowledge of tangata whenua in the region. Our school culture focuses on showing respect, being kind and honouring tradition. The story of Cambridge Primary School is displayed in the front office, leading to the vision map and the care code: At Cambridge Primary School we want our environment to look, feel and sound happy, welcoming and alive in a sustainable way. We respect people, plants and creatures.
Student Enterprise
Big C Boys
In 2010 a group of Year 5 and 6 boys created a business called The Big C. The C stood for Calendula, the flower grown, harvested and made into an ointment by the students. The idea originated from Debbie Harper, who had approached the school and given her business of making Calendula ointment.
Each school year, Year 6 boys are encouraged to apply for a position within the business. They are interviewed and successful applicants then operate the Big C for that year. Throughout the years, Big C is fortunate to have the Cambridge Community support. The boys have received mentoring and advice from people such as the late Sir Patrick Hogan from Cambridge Stud, Mr Mc Faggen from Strawberry Field and Robert Clancy from Amber Nursery.
The boys attend regular board meetings, set budgets, plan product marketing and set production goals. The group's objective has been to generate enough revenue to return funds to the school.
CPS Girls Group - Business
The CPS Girls Group started near the end of 2021, the group is comprised of senior girls. Each year girls can apply, interview, and be selected for the group for the following year.
We are a small group of Year 6 girls who love getting creative, making a difference and raising funds! From tie-dying and baking dog biscuits to making stewed rhubarb, we’re always coming up with fresh ideas.
As a result of a financial grant we successfully applied for, we installed hot compost bins and educated our girls about sustainable composting. We learnt ways to sell our compost, use it in our G2T garden beds and we have offered the bins as a service to our community.
We are all about creativity, teamwork, and making an impact—one project at a time!
