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

25 February 2014

Hello Everyone

Courses have now started at Parkland School in Motueka, and at Auckland Point School in Nelson.  Thank you to the wonderful work of the school champions Kate Erikson and Sonya Hockley in conjunction with our capable tutors Meeka and Heather.

I was able to attend the first session for the 3 courses in both schools and it was wonderful being able to meet with families.   I would also like to congratulate the families for putting themselves forward for the Computers in Homes course.  It is an amazing opportunity which benefits all those in the family including children's education.  I am looking forward to receiving regular updates on how the classes are progressing.



Parklands School tutor, Meeka working with her first group.

Parkland School - using the Paint Programme.

25 February 2014

Auckland Point is also humming with 24 families involved.

Heather, working with her first class.

Wednesday evening's group being creative with Paint programme.

22 January 2014

Happy New Year and welcome to 2014!

Two Computers in Homes courses are starting in February.  Parklands School, Motueka sessions start 10th February and the times are:-

Mondays 9.30-11.30am
Mondays 12.45-2.45am
Tuesdays 6.30 -8.30pm

Auckland Point School, Nelson sessions start 17th February.  Their session times are:-

Mondays 9-11am
Tuesday 9-11am
Wednesday 6.30-8.30pm

There is still time to be included in the courses at either venue.  Please make enquiries to Denise 027 3465668.

The computers have arrived and have been installed, so it nearly all ready to go.  Exciting.

Cheers
Denise