Stepping UP is moving into libraries!!

Hi

We are in that on again off again season, where we shift between winter and spring continually and everyone seems to come down with bugs.  I hope this isn't the case for you - personally or computer wise!!
Classes are continuing on at Stoke School and I have enjoyed receiving emails and attachments from families during their sessions.

Stepping UP for CiH Families

For those of you looking to extend your skills further, after Computers in Homes training we have a programme called 'Stepping UP'. It is a topic based approach with 17 modules to choose from.  Computers in Homes families can select up to four topics they are interested in and receive the training at no cost to themselves.  Talk to your tutor about this.

Stepping UP in Libraries

We are also collaborating with libraries to offer revised and reduced Stepping UP modules to the general public.  Marlborough District Libraries trialled this last term with great success.  Now we are able to offer Stepping UP in other libraries across our Nelson/ Marlborough region. 

Classes will be held in Marlborough at:-

• - Marlborough District Libraries in Blenheim and
• - Picton Library and Service Centre in Picton            

Classes will be held in Nelson at:-

• - Tasman District Library in Richmond and
• - Nelson Public Libraries in Nelson

Please check out the options for this training on our website Stepping UP.  These are free classes and available to everyone, so please spread the word and take advantage of this opportunity.

Wishing you healthy times and a bucketful of spring flowers.

Cheers 
Denise

PS Watch this space - we hope to offer a Tips section in our blog in the near future, thanks to our wonderful Nelson technician, Tim!!

All Set to Go!

Hi Everyone

Stoke School is now under way - with three classes starting this week.  There are sessions Monday and Wednesday mornings and one on Tuesday evening.


Pete Mitchener

Thanks to Pete Mitchener, principal at Stoke School for supporting families and the Computers in Homes programme.  Stoke School is also hosting some families from Nelson Christian Academy, Nayland College and Nelson Intermediate.  Welcome to all.

It has been lovely to attend the first sessions of each of the classes and meet the families participating.

Graduation has been set for October 22nd, so remember to keep that evening free!!

Monday's group checking out their internet options before putting their computer systems together!

Tuesday evenings group.



Angela is connecting all the cables to set up her computer. 

There will be 10 weeks of classes and then our Stoke families will be taking a computer like this one home for their family to use. The time will go very fast!!

 

Have fun and enjoy the learning!!!

 

Cheers

Denise

11 July 2014

Victory Primary School celebrated their families success at the Computers in Homes graduation held on 1st July at their Community Hall.

It was a pleasure to spend time with the participants during their last session with tutor, Heather Bates, before seeing them graduate.  Thank you to the school for organising such a lovely occasion  - I'm sure the families felt proud to share in their parents success as they graduated.

Sherry Ropoama with her daughter - receiving her certificate from Principal Helen Taylor-Young (left) and tutor Heather Bates.

Sarah Te Aonui's children,  sharing in her achievement.

Jennifer Sasa with some enthusiastic helpers cutting the Graduation cake.


 



Computers in Homes Graduation Cake.



Patricia Flynn heading home with her computer!



Safe and happy holidays and enjoy those computers!!

Cheers Denise

27 June 2014

Greetings

It's nearly the school holidays - just one week to go, and one session left for Victory Primary School families before they hold their graduation and take home their computers.  It will be a great celebration and I am looking forward to sharing the occasion with everyone next week!!

Auckland Point School has completed their Stepping UP programme for the moment - with some keen learners intending to go further and enrol at NMIT for further training.

Stepping UP at Marlborough District Library has been running successfully with the last training session to be held on 3rd July.  With 5 computers available each session, classes filled up fast.  Thanks to Sarah for taking on the tutor role and making sure participants had a really positive learning experience along with Jane and her team from the Library.  The response has been great and I enjoyed sitting in on a class recently - learning how to manoeuvre around sites to search for employment opportunities.

Mayor Alister Sowman visits one of the first Stepping UP classes to officially launch the pilot and offer his support for the programme.
 

Computers in Homes are pleased to have been funded to train a further 1500 families throughout New Zealand over the 2014/2015 year.  Our region has been allocated 50 of those family places. So I am now able to offer to other schools in the region, the opportunity to host the Computers in Homes programme, and allow their eligible families to benefit from the training and having a reconditioned computer in their home.

I am exciting to have Stoke School, Nelson, take up this opportunity and they will be hosting the Computers in Homes programme during Term 3.  They have indicated they are happy to host neighbouring school's families if there are spare spaces!

I will be back soon to share some graduation photos and further updates for Term 3.

Have a happy and safe holiday!
Cheers Denise


















Hi Everyone & Happy Mother's Day!

The new term has started and so have our courses. 


Our Stepping UP class at Auckland Point School, Nelson, is underway with a group who have graduated from the Computers in Homes programme and who are keen to continue on with their ICT learning.  The topic chosen for the first session was  "Computer Maintenance" - a great topic to help troubleshoot  problems and keep computers running efficiently.  Roll on session two!!


A new programme of Computers in Homes started at Victory School last Tuesday, with families warmly welcomed by Acting Principal - Wendy Taylor, School Champion for CiH - Dianne Goodwin, and tutor Heather Bates.  Welcome to those families who have registered for this programme.

Our first session of Stepping UP in Marlborough District Library is tomorrow at 9am.  The topic is Computer Basics.  There is one space left on this course.  Most classes are filling up very quickly. Please go to http://www.steppingup.org.nz/ to look at the schedule and enrol.

If there are any other families or schools who are interested in being involved in Computers in Homes next term, please make contact with me as soon as possible.  I look forward to working with you.

Kind Regards
Denise

28 April 2014

Happy Easter to you all!

April has been a busy month with the last Computers in Homes sessions being held, organising internet providers and getting set up at home to take newly reconditioned computers home after Graduation.

We have held Graduations at Parklands School in Motueka and at Auckland Point School in Nelson.  Congratulations to all those families for taking the opportunity for themselves, their families and their children's education to commit to the 20 hours training.  It was wonderful to share and celebrate your achievements with you and your family members.

Freda receiving her certificate from Kate, School Champion
for CiH at Parklands School and tutor Meeka Inglis.

 



Vini receiving her certificate from Principal and School CiH Champion
for Auckland Point School, Sonya Hockley and tutor Heather Bates.

Andrew sharing the benefits he has experienced from attending the Computers in Homes programme.
 

Marlborough
It is now time for us to check over the computers for families who trained at Bohally Intermediate in 2013.  The computers have had a 12 month warranty which is about to expire.  We want to ensure the computers are running the best they can before the responsibility for their care is placed totally in families hands.  I thoroughly enjoyed meeting families recently, when Carmen and I visited over the weekend to start this WOF process.  Carmen will continue to contact families to organise times for the rest of the computer checks. 

Upcoming events
Stepping UP classes at Marlborough District Library, Blenheim - starting 13 May.
This initiative is in conjunction with REAP Marlborough and is an opportunity for both Computers in Homes graduates and others in the community to upskill in areas of their interest.  Classes are 2 hours duration and free to attend.  Your can register for as many classes as you are interested in - only 6 places per class.
Register online at www.steppingup.org.nz or at Marlborough District Library.

Stepping UP classes at Auckland Point School, Nelson
- for those graduates of Computers in Homes - starting 5 May 2014, 9.15-11.45.

We are holding another Computers in Homes programme - this time at Victory School, Nelson - starting 6 May 2014, 9.15-11.30. The school and tutor are getting geared up for the new term start.  I look forward to visiting in the near future.

Enjoy those computers!!!!!!!

Cheers
Denise

2 April 2014 Graduations are coming!!

It's coming to that exciting time when the training is complete, all the paperwork is sorted to set up SNAP internet connections for families and the next step is to celebrate at Graduation and take home the newly reconditioned computers.  At last!!!!

I am looking forward to travelling to attend graduations with our two host schools:-

                   Parklands School on Monday 14th April at 3pm

                   Auckland Point School on Tuesday 15th April at 6pm

 It is so exciting to see all the work and commitment come to fruition and I am looking forward to listening as participants share their experiences.  I'm sure I will have some great photos to share on my next post!!

I will share more after the graduations.  Talk then....

Cheers
Denise