Final Numbers for 2013-14 Year

Well we thought we could sit back and enjoy the cruise to the finish line after such a hectic term in Term1 BUT NO. Term 2 has seen our profile raised to huge standards with both parent registration and information nights producing big numbers of people. So we now have 20 families participating at Halfway Bush School and another 24 families at Carisbrook School. Both schools have started their training and are due to graduate on 3rd July at a combined graduation. So welcome aboard to you all and I hope you all enjoy your CiH experience.2 Carisbrook Classes on PhotoPeach

WHAT A GRADUATION DUNEDIN !!!!

Well last night was a real experience for us all. We expected 100 people, we put out 150 seats and then still had to get more and had people standing still. It was held in the new Josephine Lobby at Otago Settlers Museum. We had 38 families graduating from the Computers in Homes classes at Brockville and Carisbrook Schools, along with 63 brave people who had registered for the BYOD pilot at these schools. There was a range of VIP's from the Mayor, Dave Cull, Dunedin South MP Clare Curran, Councillors, Otago Community Board, Digital Office, WIC, CiH Steering Group and 2020 National Office. We started with parents being presented with their certificates for CiH from the Mayor and then went on to a special presentation to both participating Principals, Ben Sincock (Carisbrook) and Brian Filipo (Brockville) from Barbara Craig and Di Daniels from 2020's National Office. Then came the presentation of the devices and it was awesome to see that the children who will be using them either accompanied their parent, or came forward on their own to accept them. The smiles on their faces was remarkable. They were all being overheard asking when they could take their device to school and then amazed that they were taking them home and were allowed to play with them over the school holidays. Many parents received some great Brownie Points from their children last night. I think they may have rivalled the Easter Bunny this year. Thanks to everyone for the enormous efforts put in this term here in Dunedin, all the people (mostly in Wellington) that had to put up with numerous "HELP" calls from me and congratulations to all the 101 graduates. Footnote to my team down here. If I ever say we're doing this again please gag me.  Otago Settlers Museum on PhotoPeach

BYOD Starts to get Exciting in Dunedin

Well the last couple of weeks have seen some really excited families coming along to classes. The registration process time is nearly over and to date we have 38 people registered to receive their devices at the CiH graduation on 15th April. Just in time for kids to get the hang of their devices over the holidays and ready to get involved in the new tech age that is starting in the 2 participating schools. Check out just 2 of the mums "getting the feel for these devices and watch this space for those graduation pics.

Carisbrook Come Onboard for BYOD

Mondays Parent Information Evening at Carisbrook School saw another keen group of families ready to sign up to participate in the first BYOD classes in Dunedin. Along with Brockville School there will be 63 eager and willing parents giving up a little of their free time this term to help their families get a desktop computer at home, along with an Internet connection BUT also making it possible for their children to own their own digital device for use at school and at home. Classroom teachers have come on board by offering all lessons via digital devices for the classes that are taking part in this scheme. Watch this space as the updates become available. BYOD Info Nights on PhotoPeach

Brockville Keen to Hear About BYOD Pilot

Wow what an excellent start to 2014. We have engaged with a very eager Brian at Brockville. He will be working as the temporary Principal while the school sorts out their new Principal. Lucky for us we had worked with him before and he was keen to give the new concept of BYOD a trial run. We sent out the invitations for the Parent Info night and Brian (the school) supplied the cake, bickies and cups of tea. We were expecting about 20 families, with maybe 15 turning up on the night. You can imagine my surprise when there was 29 present. We discussed all avenues open to families. All except one are going to complete the full 20 hours training for CiH AND also want to complete the nine hours training for the internet connection and being able to take part in the new BYOD scheme. We are going to have a busy term but both tutors feel they are up for the challenge. It will be interesting to see the response at a similar meeting to be held at Carisbrook next week. Watch this space for updates. This will be a real term of learning for all involved.

Final Graduation for 2013

Last Tuesday saw the final graduation for 2013 take place at Carisbrook School. We had 10 families graduate from Computers in Homes and receive their new machines just in time for Xmas. We also graduated another 12 from Stepping UP. These people had completed the required minimum of 4 steps and all indicated a wish to return and continue training next year. We are sadly saying farewell to our regular spot for training at Carisbrook Terrace site. Our POD will be moved down to the new school site in South Road for the start of the 2014 year and once again thanks to the leadership of Principal Ben Sincock this POD will still be made available for both school and community use for CiH, & Stepping UP. Thanks to all the people who have helped over this year. Hope you all have a great Xmas break and will see you all back mid January for another exciting chapter in this project. Carisbrook CiH & Steppng UP Grad Dec 2013 on PhotoPeach

Good News to End 2013

Well we have ended our 2013 year with some good results. After thinking we wouldn't get the numbers to complete a class at Carisbrook during Term 4, we have managed to get ten families wanting to participate. All have committed to completing the required twenty hours of training in time to graduate on Tuesday 17th December. Meaning they will all have a new computer to play with through the Xmas holidays. Big thanks to Ben Sincock and Tony Hayward, who went the extra mile to rally the troops. Thanks to this class. I am receiving e-mails regularly each week from you all and I will catch up with you all again on Wednesday 4th December to take you all through your Online Surveys. So until then Keep in Touch.

Carisbrook Notch up another Graduation

Our reliable community POD at Carisbrook played host for another twelve families to graduate from classes held during Term 3. We were able to hold the graduation ceremony in a new part of the main schools facilities. this gave people a chance to look over schooling for the future. it proved to be a real talking point for all. Principal Ben Sincock outlined his plans for our POD in 2014 and explained where this new facility would be located from January 2014. he also extended a huge welcome to all families, old and new, who would like to come back and further their learning with Stepping UP lessons. We also graduated five very dedicated people who have completed their sixteen steps for Stepping UP. All of the twelve graduates are returning tonight to begin their Stepping UP. This is a he commitment from families and I congratulate you all for your dedication. No doubt we will see your smiling faces back at the next celebration of learning. WELL DONE !!!!! Carisbrook Graduation at Main Site October 2013 on PhotoPeach

First Graduation For Elmgrove

This new school term started off with a graduation for Mosgiel's Elmgrove School. This is the first time the project has ventured out to the southern outskirts of the city. It was a quiet affair as there was only six participants graduating. They had completed their classes at the end of the previous term but had to wait patiently as their machines were not quite ready for delivery. It was great to see Principal Jenny McDonald make the graduation and all were inspired by her words of encouragement. Well Done to this class as it looks like all six are returning next week to continue with Stepping UP classes and will be joined by some of our earlier graduated families from Mosgiel who are now going to take up the challenge of returning to classes. Elmgrove Graduation October 2013 on PhotoPeach

Bathgate Park Catch Up Class Graduate

While others participants from DLC 2012-13 were enjoying their machines five others were still working hard towards theirs. Through no fault of their own and because of the usual winters ills and chills with family they all had time and classes to make up. Congratulations to them for finally completing their tasks and graduating in a very low key affair on Wednesday 25 September. The participants wanted a smaller graduation with little fuss. This is what we gave them. Along with some yummy food we all shared a great hour of laughs and giggles. Well done to this group for sticking with the programme and seeing it through to the end.

2013-14 Kicks off in Dunedin

Well yes you have read this properly. After a lot of uncertainty government have seen sense and announced recently a further years funding for the project nationwide. I got the confirmation e-mail three weeks ago and we contacted all those on our waiting list for Carisbrook. We have got 11 starting there. We are also chatting with Elmgrove School in Mosgiel. We had a class of 8 families from there last year who trained at Carisbrook and have subsequently got 7 more families waiting to go. We will hopefully get the installation of the POD there sorted over the next week and families should start training there during the last week in August. Keep your eyes open for this posting but in the meantime check out the group from Carisbrook albeit minus a couple who have fallen prey to the flu.

Sun Comes Out for Carisbrook Graduation

Well Tuesday might have seen Dunedin shut down because of snow for the first time in 2013 but by Wednesday the sun was shining and all roads were once again passable and our graduation at Carisbrook School could get underway. Everyone arrived bright and cheery and all were in a rush to get home with their new machines before ice threaten to close the roads again. Although it was a shortened celebration evryone stayed around to share the refreshments, have their photos taken, and share some of their plans and hopes for them now they had a computer at home. This is the final graduation for our 2012-13 year at this school, and I would like to take the chance to thank Principal Ben Sincock, who has proven to be a huge supporter of the programme for his school and community families. Fingers crossed Ben we will return. THANKS !!!!!!!

Carisbrook Graduation on PhotoPeach

Bathgate Park End The Term ON a High

With only one week of the school term left some of Bathgate Park families were left counting down the days till the holidays went their parents graduated from the schools first Computers in Homes programme on Friday 5 July. It was a great turn out with us needing to expand into the hall as our numbers swelled. Principal Whetu Cormack was able to share the afternoon with these families. He even got conned into having numerous photos taken with every family there. This is hopefully just the start of our relationship with this school. We already have names down on a waiting list and fingers crossed a least one more class will start here next term. Well down to all participating families and check out some of the great photos from the afternoon.
Bathgate Park Graduation July 2013 on PhotoPeach

Halfway Bush Brave the Cold to Graduate

These three classes seemed to have braved all the elements to complete their training. It all started on a lovely sunny evening when we held our Parent info night. It then started getting dark earlier, then the heavens opened up and it flooded Dunedin wide, then if that wasn't enough it started snowing during a week of classes, to the point that poor Rebecca (tutor) thought she was going to be permanently stranded in Halfway Bush. Still all participants arrived and worked through their hours of training. They even came by the van load, with someone kind person from the Kohunga doing the rounds of South Dunedin to collect participants. As if that wasn't enough graduation night rolled round to a night of bitterly cold gale force winds. Check out the photos though. These hardy southerners turned up with their families and their pleasure and excitement was evident on all their faces. If you can see them through the layers of clothing and jackets. Well done to you all. It was great seeing this school and kohunga work together to make the project work for them. Hope to get back and run a couple more classes.

Halfway Bush Graduation July 2013 on PhotoPeach

Carisbrook Working towards the Finishing Post

After a couple of false starts Carisbrook class are finally close to reaching Graduation. It took along time and a couple of false starts to get this group up and running but the nine participants that remain, have work tirelessly towards thier graduation. This was marked this week with the holding of their class on machine assembly. Big thanks to those who dragged themselves there coughing and sneezing. Pleased we ahve all had our Flu jabs. Anyway it was also meant to be the class where they did their Online Survey and would have then completed their obligations towards Graduation. Yes you guessed it. This poor class have had no luck. Janine went down sick half way through the class and had to leave, so next week we will all have another go at completing this group and graduating them on Wednsday 29 May at 6pm. Well done this whole group for their dedication and willpower to overcome all the obstacles they have encountered.