October 2025 Newsletter
- GCSN
- Oct 8
- 3 min read
He rau ringa e oti ai
Many hands make light work.
The 2025 school year is truly flying by!
Considering Term 4 has just begun, we wanted to take this opportunity to share what we have coming up for you, ākonga and your school/kura across the remainder of the year.
We want to share a range of learning opportunities for ākonga, kaiako and schools/kura available across the rest of the year. This month's newsletter shares free, digital fluency-focused resources and learning opportunities for ākonga, kaiako, whānau and schools/kura.
If you have any questions or want to get in touch please reach out to us at info@gcsn.school.nz or via the GCSN website.
Noho ora mai rā,
The GCSN Team
GCSN Digital Wellbeing Resources
Now as much as ever it is important to ensure our tamariki are staying safe online. At the GCSN we also think it is important to teach our young people how to use digital technologies in safe, positive and creative ways to promote digital citizenship and wellbeing.
Our digitial wellbeing modules, alongside our suite of free, publicly accessible, online resources, can be used by schools/kura, whānau and kaiako to support learners to navigate online spaces safely. The digital wellbeing modules address the following areas:
Technostress
Cybersafety
Digital Citizenship
Cyberbullying
Technoference
Videogames
Safe and Ethical Use of AI in Schools
Term 4 2025 Opportunities
Imagination Station education programmes
GCSN is a proud supporter of Imagination Station, supporting them to deliver LEGO-based, robotics programmes for tamariki at schools across Ōtautahi. We wanted to take this opportunity to share a bit more about Imagination Station and all they have to offer.
The learning opportunities delivered by Imagination Station are centred around learning through play, inspiring tamariki to give robotics a go!
Alongside storytelling-focused programmes and games and challenges that promotion learning through play, Imagination Station deliver two robotics-focused LEGO learning opportunities. These sessions teach ākonga in Years 3 to 8 how to create their own robot and corresponding LEGO SPIKE Prime programme with sensors and motors able to complete challenges.
Top of the Pods 2025
Submissions close Friday 10 October!
The 2025 Top of the Pods podcasting competition is coming to an end! We can't wait to hear what all the teams have created.
Teams of tamariki in Years 5-10 from schools or whānau across greater Christchurch can create and submit a podcast snippet (under 5 min) or episode (5-20 min). Every team entered is eligible to win amazing prizes including up to $500 of Rockshop NZ podcasting equipment for their school, a Libraries merch-making masterclass, RØDE Microphones merch, and more!
The competition will wrap up with a prizegiving and showcase event on Wednesday 22 October (Week 3, Term 4) from 5:30pm at TSB Space, Tūranga Library. See you there!
Christchurch City Libraries school programmes
Register now for the last available spots in 2025!
Christchurch City Libraries deliver five innovative, creative learning programmes for ākonga across Ōtautahi to engage with digital technologies and STEAM-based learning experiences. The GCSN provide funding for the following programmes:
Coding Creations - Learning how to code using VEX Robotics and block-based coding.
Crafting Empathy - Using Minecraft Education to promote soft skills learning.
Podcasting Essentials - Learning podcasting basics to create a podcast snippet.
Creative Design - Creating vector artwork and applying designs to a chosen physical product.
Miniature Maker - Designing and creating a 3D model inspired by a story.
Comments