Busy Times Ahead for Term 2

Brockvilles Saturday Class

Monday Class @ Forbury



NEV's Saturday Class

NEV's Friday Night Class

Dunedin Computers in Homes team are in for a very busy term with 4 different schools participating, making a total of eight classes a week. Poor Tony & Liz are having to travel from one side of town to the other, never mind holding down a 'real' job. Sorry guys no time for a family life till at least July. Our project technician will also be polishing off his diary as the graduations draw near. But we are a great team and although only being together for 6 months we have formed a great team spirit and we all get a real buzz from seeing the pleasure families get from the project.

Some of Pine Hills Saturday Class

Pine Hills Monday Class

This week saw the launch of the first 2 classes at Pine Hill with classes being held on a Saturday morning & Monday afternoon. We also see the start of classes at Forbury, these being held on a Tuesday evening & Friday afternoon. Brockville will also begin this Saturday with their classes held on Saturday afternoons. The final school to join this terms classes will be north East Valley, who came on board late but have rallied round and after their parent evening next week, will be holding 3 classes a week on Monday afternoon, Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning. Well done to John & his staff. Keep eyes peeled for photos of each class. I will post them as quickly as possible and don't fret Forbury I will return now I've sorted my camera.

Some of the Second Intake for Forbury

NEV finally underway

Ha and you all thought you were getting away with it. Check them out so far.

College Street Make it Graduation #2

The Spoils

College St Group

A Very Happy John

It was an excellent night for the graduation of College Street participants. Each being accompanied by numerous & supportive family members. There was a list of dignatories including, His Worship the mayor Dave Cull, Deputy Mayor Chris Staynes, 2020 Founding Trustee Barbara Craig, Principal Gary Tenbath, and Jimmi (surname unkown) but school office administrator. After a short speech from all the certificates were given out by tutors Tony & Liz. The hardest part was trying to get the group together for a photo. Participants and children weren't even interested in the food, they just formed a steady stream of people with machines parts under their arms as they headed for their cars & home 'to plug them in'. Well done to you all and it was great seeing the sense of acheivement displayed.

Principal Gary Tenbeth

2020 Trustee Barbara Craig

His Worship Dave Cull

2011 Graduations Begin

Tuesday 5th April saw 23 participants celebrate the culmination of ten weeks training with them graduating and getting their much await computers. There was a large number of people ready to celebrate with them. The function was attended by Cr Chris Staynes (Deputy Mayor), Di Das (National Coordinator for Computers in Homes), and Glenda Jack (Principal Calton Hill) along with alot of excited family members. Once the formalities were completed we all shared a wonderful selection of food, that was arranged by tutors Leeanne & Jess. However you couldn't keep the children from wanting to gather their parents computer and take it home for a test run. So we started to see a steady stream of families with all array of computer equipment heading for the door. Well done to you all. I have since caught up with at least 10 of these participants and all are rapt with their machines and are working alongside their children to maximise its use.

Graduations are on Their Way

For all of you participants who regularly follow our blog, even coordinators get homework, and here is mine. We had to have recently updated our blogspot and because you are all due to graduate over the next couple of weeks I thought 'Heck what am I going to do' so here we go what better than letting you all see the evidence that your machines have all arrived, even if I now have trouble getting into my front door. They are now waiting 'patiently' for Louis to do his thing and configure them for your Internet accounts and then they are all good to go. Well done to you all and in the meantime I suppose you could keep gazing at your spoils. To those who have completed their online surveys at Calton Hill, Well done & thanks, told you it wasn't SO BAD. To those of you at College Street, who are still to do it, I will see you all next week.

Rain Doesn't Deter Second Class

It might have been a rather cold ,wet and dismal Saturday in Dunedin today, but that didn't deter the second class of participants turning up. All bright and happy and fizzing to get started we had to drag them out of the class just to have their photo taken for this blog. Then after that having to slow down and listen to me for approx 15 minutes, I think they were all pleased to see the back of me and roll their sleeves up and get down to a bit of learning. It will be awesome to monitor the 2 classes at College Street and watch their progress as they work towards their joint graduation on 12 April at a school assembly. Watch this space.

College Street Launches in Dunedin

Last week saw the launch of another school joining the Computers in Homes family. We held a very quiet meeting in the staffroom last Thursday for prospective participants. Much to Gary's (Principal) dismay only four people turned up. It was decided that classes would be held on Monday evening & Saturday morning. True to my predictions, and Garys doubts the first class rolled aroung with an amazing ten people turning up for the start. Unfortunately we only have seven machines but in true CiH spirit some of them have chosen to come to the Saturday class. The participants were again a little camera shy but we did get them to have a group photo taken for this blog. Wait till the graduation we won't be able to keep them out of the spotlight. All of the people present were also keen to try out the Census 2011 online as part of their lesson on the 7th March. Well done to you all for being so prepared to try something new.

Class Number 2 begins at Calton Hill

Wednesday night proved to be a very busy night at Calton Hill, with a total of 13 new participants arriving to begin their training for this term. We had managed to borrow machines from some of the childrens classes to enable each participant to have a machine to themselves. There was alot of energy in this class with alot of interesting questions asked of me. Tutors Jess and Leeane were pleased with the response from the local community and are looking forward to the next nine weeks of training. I even received the odd e-mail or two proving that participants were eager to be set up with an e-mail address and begin their journey. Roll on the 5th April when they will all graduate.

Calton Hill leads Off 2011

It might have been the first day of school for most of the children at Calton Hill but 8 of their parents started back at school this term as well. They are taking part in one of the two classes the school is holding for Computers in Homes this term.It will see 20 parents graduating on 5th April and being able to take home their computers for the next school holidays, and the kids will have a couple of weeks to give their Internet a test drive before schools begins again. Although all were a little camera shy I did manage to catch a few while they were busy setting up their e-mail accounts.

36 Make it a First by Graduating in Dunedin

    

Brockville Graduates



Forbury Graduates






 

There was a real air of excitement and celebration at the Civic Centre in Dunedin on Thursday night, as the first 36 people who have taken part in the launch of the Computers in Homes project in both Forbury and Brockville Schools graduated. Some of our special guests included His Worship The Mayor Dave Cull, Deputy Mayor Chris Staynes and some fellow councillors. Members of the Dunedin City Digital Strategy Steering Group, National CiH Coordinator Di Das and an scattering of interested principals from other Dunedin Schools. A surprise for all came when Clare Curran MP was replaced by Peter Brook from Otago Polytech, who gave Clares apologies and delivered her address on her behalf. Janice Tofia (Forbury) and Ben Sincock (Brockville) spoke on the impact this programme has had on both their schools and the local school community. Then came the graduation. Each graduate was called in turn by their respective tutor (Tony & Liz Hayward or Brian Filipo) and congratulated by His Worship (complete with all the bling). Finally with each participant standing by their hard earned machines photos were taken. A representative from each class then joined with the Mayor in the cutting of the graduation cake. Much to all the childrens excitement the Mayor then proceeded to cut the cut and give a piece to each person there, still complete with the bling

The Nights Line Up



 

Graduates

 

                                                               

                                               

The Cake

                                                             

Sun Shines on Brockvilles Sunday Class

It was a beautiful sunny Dunedin afternoon on Sunday when most people would be out mowing lawns, walking, doing housework, instead there was a dedicated group of 8 Brockville people starting on their lessons to secure a computer for their families in time for Christmas. Their tutor (Brian) even gave up time from his weekends to ensure this happens for them. This brings the total of participants for Brockville School to 15 for this year.  Giving them a strong case for a further class in Term 1 of 2011. Well done to their Principal (Ben) and tutor (Brian) who have put in the extra miles for their school community. It can only be of benefit to both families and the school.

Brockville Joins the CIH Wave

It might have been a very wet and wild night last Thursday in Brockville, but all was calm and peaceful as the first seven participants took the big step of returning to 'school' for the next eight weeks to sharpen up their computer skills and receive a computer for their families. Just in time for Xmas. It was a keen group even if they were a bit camera shy and giggly. The school has, with Computers in Homes help, set up a bright and comfortable suite for them to use in Room 8. I'm sure the children from the school will benefit from this also. I left after 30 minutes of  course introduction for them and by the time I got home they had all sent their first e-mails to me. Well done all of you (including Brian). Now to answer your e-mails.