Kids on the Ridge FM
Ridge kids rule radio airwaves
Anna Bowden - Wednesday, April 19, 2006 11:00
There's a new radio station in town. It's just for kids - and it's run by kids.
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Selwyn Ridge Primary technician Nadia Weightman, left, and DJ Brooke McDowall. Picture: Jimmy Joe
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It's Kids on the Ridge FM.
And technician Nadia Weighman and DJ Brooke McDowall are beaming out to all those willing to hear from up to 30km away.
Senior children at the school are DJs and carry out birthday calls, interviews with people around the school, visitors to the school and students in the school.
It is also used as an avenue to celebrate achievements by students, some even play music live on air.
The radio studio, part of the music suite at Selwyn Ridge Primary School, runs before school and during lunchtimes and has been heard as far away as Katikati. Not bad considering it was supposed to only reach a 3-5km distance.
Decked out with posters - Craig David, Dei Hamo, J-Lo, The Feelers and Jack Johnson - the studio even has a real "on air" light.
The station was introduced as an idea after a teacher at the school saw a version of it elsewhere - Selwyn Ridge was helped by the Bay's Classic Hits station to set up the frequency and equipment.
School principal Merryn Muir said the radio station was seen as having great potential for children's learning because it involved critical thinking, problem solving, risk taking and creative aspects in setting it up.
These are skills and strategies taught to pupils as part of the school's Kid on the Ridge Tool Box model.
"It's amazing, they'll just go right back into interviewing ... As an adult, you would probably think of more of the problems available," Mrs Muir said.
© Bay of
Plenty Times 19 April 2006.
This material remains © APN News & Media Limited and is only to be used for non-commercial personal or research use.
Any other use requires permission of the copyright holder.
For a full listing of all LPFM radio stations see the NZ LPFM Radio Guide
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