Ngati Apa ki te Ra To Trust Graduation

Ngati Apa ki te Ra To Trust Graduation on PhotoPeach

Ngati Apa ki te Ra To Trust training complete

20 hours of training sessions are now complete at Ngati Apa ki te Ra To Trust.

The Graduation was held on Friday 20th November.  It was lovely to meet all the children and celebrate the successful completion of the Computers in Homes training course.  Congratulations to everyone and I wish you fun with your "new" computers.

Tech support will be offered by 

Simon Cox at BlueberryIT.

Training Nearly Complete at Ngati Apa ki te Ra To Trust

We are nearly at the end of our 20 hours training.




We started by learning how to set up the computer suite.  It was fun but messy.  It looked a little like spaghetti junction!!

Most of us now have email addresses, and Skype addresses.  We have had a good look around the internet and have learnt how to use the virus and spyware checker to keep the computer safe.  We have been looking around at our children's school's website and homework sites.

We have a few more things to learn before it is time for Graduation and finally taking our computers home to share with our families. Exciting times!

Hi Redwoodtown School families

I would like to introduce you to your new technician from 1 November 2015.  James Riddell has kindly agreed to step into this role and will continue the great service you have already received from Aaron. I have sent an email to you with James' contact information - phone number and email address.

James Riddell

I would like to thank Aaron Vercoe for supporting you so well since the beginning of your training, and wish him well in his new position for 2016 as principal of Redwoodtown School.

Netsafe's New Website

Hi

If you have any concerns about keeping safe while on the internet - have a click around Netsafe's site.  It has a new look and it has great safety tips.  They have collated advice for educators, parents and young people in one central location.  Their address is: www.netsafe.org.nz

Cheers Denise

 



Snap and 2degrees merge

For all our Snap internet users

Snap and 2degrees have now combined and are going under the name 2degrees. To access your account information use the direct link to "Your 2degrees Broadband" -

https://secure.2degreesbroadband.co.nz/login/?next=/

This replaces the Snap "My Account" function, but works just the same way.






If you search for Snap, it will direct you to this page:-   

Then you can click on "Your 2degrees" drop arrow, choose the "Broadband and Home Phone" Log in to reach the same page.

 

 

 

 

 

 Happy Internet browsing!!

Tahunanui School Graduation on PhotoPeach

Computers head home with Tahunanui Families

 

Ten families from Tahunanui School have

successfully completed their 20 hours training

with the Computers in Homes programme

and have celebrated their success with family, teachers,

guests and members of the Board of Trustees at their

Graduation on 19th August.

 

 

And of course the exciting part is taking the computers home

after Graduation and getting them set up. 

 

Heading away with the computers!! Yippee!

   At Graduation, Georgia

   shared her impressions of

   the training and the 

   impact having a computer

   at home will have for her

   family.

Technical Support - Nathan Green

   Hopefully by the end of this

   week all the internet connections

   will be complete.

A big thank you to Principal Barbara Bowen for hosting Computers in Homes, and to Deputy Principal Ian Lambie for taking on the tutoring role.  Welcome also to Nathan Green, technical support for these families.

             

Congratulations!!!!!



Tahunanui Familes make a start

Hi

With the winter months here, and chances of illness taking hold, and also a keenness to take computers home as soon as possible, the group from Tahunanui School in Nelson decided to commit to two training sessions a week to complete their 20 hours of training. Their tutor Ian had his work cut out to fit this into his already busy schedule, but he was also committed to seeing this group of families successfully complete the programme.


Ian Lambie - tutor and Champion for Computers in Homes

First class at Tahunanui School

The weeks have sped by quickly and next week will see the last training session being held before the participants and their families attend their graduation and celebrate their success. 




Redwoodtown Graduation on PhotoPeach

Alli's Story

Hi, I’m Alli and I’m so grateful that the Computer in Homes course exists!

Initially when I started this course, my aim was to update my computer skills so that I could help support my son who’s ten with his homework which has become increasingly more and more computer dependant. Driving out to Nana’s house to use her computer, in the evenings isn’t the most convenient!

Alli with Auckland Point School Principal Sonya Hockley. 
Alli's success  story was published in the
Computers in Homes Half-year Report

Now at the end of the course, I feel like I’ve come such a long way in preparing myself to re-enter the workforce (after ten years of not being in the paid workforce). Ten years ago I used to work full-time on a computer but so much has changed since then: A flash drive or memory stick, what’s that? Zero and the cloud, what’s that all about? Facebook, well, that didn’t even exist back then. Technology had left me behind!!! But I knew, if only for my son’s sake, I needed to get up with the play. I wanted to learn how to protect and help keep him safe on the internet. I wanted to be able to continue to help and support him with his homework. I wasn’t quite sure where to start. After ten years out of the paid workforce I had lost a lot of computer confidence, and to be honest, a lot of confidence full stop. Now in my forties, the thought of studying again in a classroom was daunting! But this Monday 16 June ‘14 I finished the Computer in Homes course and the Stepping Up classes that followed. I’m going to miss those Monday mornings! I even feel a bit sad that it’s all finished. I really enjoyed learning and the fact that our classes were small and relaxed. Our tutor Heather was friendly, helpful and patient. Sometimes very patient! I liked the way we were taught; first we were shown what to do on the computer while we watched, then we had printed notes to also help and guide us as we practised. It’s great having exactly the same computer at home now with the same programmes and the same notes to refer back to.

What this course did for me, and I didn’t expect, was it gave me my confidence back. I even feel like I could apply for jobs now that interest me. The course also inspired me to keep on learning and helped me to know the direction to go in. I had been thinking earlier about doing a Business Administration course at Polytechnic until one Monday morning in class when we were doing spreadsheets. Some of the other students were saying, “I hate spreadsheets!” Or “I don’t like numbers!” Meanwhile I was sitting there thinking, “I love spreadsheets! I love numbers!” It made me realise that I still enjoy accounting which is in line with what I used to do and all my past experience. So instead of studying Business Administration, I think I will focus more along the lines of accounting. I’m Excited! Studying at Polytechnic again now doesn’t seem quite so scary, and I’m sure I will even enjoy it.

Having a computer at home now is great ! It’s so convenient for my sons homework, well, and playing Minecraft ! I feel confident now that I know how to help protect and keep him safe on the internet, set healthy boundaries on it’s use, and also how to maintain and keep the computer and files safe too. My husband likes Trade Me and the notes from the course have been really helpful. For me personally, getting my confidence back has been the best thing. The $50 spent to do the course and get the computer is the best money I’ve ever spent. I would encourage anyone who has children but no computer in your home to do this course. Computers are the way of the world and I think it’s important as a parent that we try and keep up with our children’s world, for their sake, as well as ours. I’m just so thankful to have been given this opportunity.

 

Thanks for sharing your story Alli.

 

Cheers Denise

Congratulations Redwoodtown School!!!

Congratulations to the 24 families who completed their Computers in Homes training this week at Redwoodtown School.  We held the Graduation last Friday night and it was a real celebration with family, friends and invited guests. 








We were entertained by fun dance items and wonderful singing before sharing a delicious meal. 

Receiving certificates was a real high light, as was hearing the speeches from some of the families.  Well done everyone!!



Our Graduates!!!

A huge thanks goes to Gary and Redwoodtown School for hosting the programme and to Emma, Sharon and Rebekah for tutoring.  Also to Aaron for offering to be the technical support for families while their computers are under warranty over the next 12 months.  Thanks also to Lapu for being an amazing help with organising everyone,  and support for both the families and the programme.

 

Lapu, Rebekah, Sharon and Emma.

At the end of a wonderful celebration the computers were collected to be taken home and set up for the families to enjoy.

 

 

Congratulations!!!!



Good luck with your computers and with continuing  your computer learning journey.  Enjoy the Stepping UP training courses being held at Marlborough District Libraries.

 

Well done! 

Denise

Marlborough Computers in Homes Training

Programmes are going very well at Redwoodtown School and nearing the end of their ten weeks of training.  The subsidised internet connections are now organised.  The Graduation for all the training groups will be held in another week and then the computers will be taken home.  That will be a great celebration!! 

I would also like to say welcome to Ngati Apa ki te Ra To Trust who will be hosting a Computers in Homes programme in early June.  They have organised two tutors to support the learning.  We will hear more about the programme at a later date.

Ngati Apa ki te Ra To Trust venue for training

Cheers Denise

Classes begin at Redwoodtown School

What a great start to the year!!   25 families are attending three classes of Computers in Homes training at Redwoodtown School.  Gary Hildyard, Principal of Redwoodtown School was happy to host families from surrounding schools and with the amazing help of Lapu to bring this all together, we now have families involved from St Mary’s, Marlborough Girls', Blenheim, Bohally Intermediate, Springlands and of course Redwoodtown School. 

First sessions were held on the 18^th and 19^th of February, with the capable support of tutors Sharon Holm, Emma Hebbard and Rebekah Vercoe.

Sharon Holm - Wednesday
afternoon tutor

Emma Hebbard - Wednesday evening tutor

Rebekah Vercoe - Thursday evening tutor

It was lovely for me to attend these first sessions and meet all the families and watch you play around with the Paint programme and get familiar with the computer set up. 

 

Wednesday afternoon class

Wednesday evening class

 

 

 



Thursday evening class

I will enjoy hearing how you are all progressing over the next 10 weeks. 

Enjoy your learning!!

Cheers

Denise

BYOD at Parklands

Parklands have two classes working with BYOD this year and so more families have come onto the BYOD programme.  Thanks to Kate and Andrea for leading the three training sessions for these families, supporting them through safety issues and organising the devices to work well for their children.  There was much laughter during session two as everyone tried to navigate through their setting up process.  I was able to visit on the last session and enjoyed hearing how the devices were going to be used with the children in their classes, and then the devices were on their way home!!

Parkland families heading home with their BYOD devices.

More FREE Stepping UP classes in Nelson/ Marlborough Libraries

Hi
Our libraries are gearing up for the coming term and have offered great programmes again.  You can enrol at the library or go online to steppingup.org.nz, choose Nelson-Marlborough Courses from the 'Courses' tab and then Register for the class you are interested in learning more about at the library of your preference.

Here are their FREE programmes:-


Marlborough District Library
Word 1                               Tuesday 10 February        9-11am
Word 2                               Tuesday 17 February        9-11am
TradeMe                             Tuesday 24 February        9-11am
Computer Basics                  Thursday 26 February       6.30-8.30pm
Computer Basics                  Tuesday 3 March              9-11am
Home finances                     Tuesday 10 March            9-11am
Google and the Internet        Tuesday 17 March            9-11am
Google and the Internet        Tuesday 24 March            9-11am
Facebook                                  Tuesday 31 March               9-11am

Picton Library and Service Centre
Computer Basics                    Wednesday 18 February   9.30-11.30am
Word 1                                    Wednesday 25 February   9.30-11.30am
Word 2                                    Wednesday 4 March         9.30-11.30am
Email 1                                    Wednesday 18 March       9.30-11.30am
Email 2                                    Wednesday 25 March       9.30-11.30am
Google & the Internet              Wednesday 1 April            9.30-11.30am
Internet & Safety Security       Wednesday 8 April            9.30-11.30am
Facebook                                Wednesday 15 April          9.30-11.30am

Nelson Public Libraries
Word 1&2                               Wednesday 11 February  10-12noon
Basic Internet*                       Thursday 12 February       10-12noon
Employment 1                        Wednesday 18 February  10-12noon
Youtube                                 Thursday 19 February       10-12noon
Employment 2                        Wednesday 25 February  10-12noon
Newspapers Online*              Thursday 26 February      10-12noon
Real Me                                  Wednesday 4 March        10-12noon
Skype                                     Thursday 5 March            10-12noon
Spreadsheets                         Wednesday 11 March      10-12noon
Research/Online resources*  Thursday 12 March           10-12noon
Ebook*                                    Tuesday 17 March            5.30-6.30pm
Internet Security and Safety   Wednesday 18 March      10-12noon
Intro to Social Media              Thursday 19 March           10-12noon
Digital Imaging                       Wednesday 25 March       10-12noon
Trade Me                               Thursday 26 March           10-12noon  
Intro to Tablets                       Wednesday 1 April           10-12noon
Travel Planning*                    Thursday 2 April                10-12noon

Stoke Library
Intro to Tablets                       Friday 13 February            8.45-9.45am
Word 1                                   Friday 20 February            8.45-9.45am
Word 2                                   Friday 27 February            8.45-9.45am
Employment 1                        Friday 20 March                8.45-9.45am
Employment 2                        Friday 27 March                8.45-9.45am

Nightingale Library Memorial (Tahunanui)
Basic Internet*                    Thursday 12 March     2-4pm 
Internet Security & Safety   Thursday 26 March     2-4pm 

 

Tasman District Library
Computer Basics                          Tuesday 3 March                  10-12noon
Email 1                                         Thursday 5 March                 1-3pm
Email 2                                         Tuesday 10 March                10-12noon
Computer Basics                          Thursday 12 March               10-12noon
Email 2                                         Tuesday 17 March                10-12noon
Home Finances                            Thursday 19 March               1-3pm
Digital Photos                               Tuesday 24 March                10-12noon
Skype                                           Thursday 26 March               10-12noon
Internet Security & Safety            Tuesday 31 March                10-12noon
Digital Photos                               Thursday 2 April                   1-3pm
Home Finances                            Tuesday 7 April                    10-12noon
Intro to Social Media                    Thursday 9 April                   10-12noon
Trade Me                                      Tuesday 14 April                 10-12noon
Internet Security & Safety             Thursday 16 April               1-3pm
Employment 1                               Tuesday 21 April                10-12noon
Employment 2                               Thursday 23 April               10-12noon
Facebook                                      Tuesday 28 April                 10-12noon
Google & the Internet                   Thursday 30 April                 1-3pm
 

Enjoy!!  Denise

Belated Christmas Greetings

Sorry this post didn't go live before Christmas!!!!

9 December 2014

It is nearly that time again - and it seems schools are crazily packing in lots of fun events to finish the year with.

Redwoodtown School has set their Computers in Homes programme to start in the third week of Term 1, 2015.  We held a meeting last week to meet the families and explain how the programme works.  Redwoodtown has generously offered to host other schools, and families from Bohally Intermediate, Blenheim School, and St Mary's School will also be participating.  It was lovely to meet all of you and very exciting to see Computers in Homes returning to the Blenheim area.

 

Merry Christmas....

Denise