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.

Bathgate Park Join Our CiH Group

Last night saw our final school for the DLC 2012-13 year join our group. Even though it was a cold and wet night families still came out to meet with our group and enrol themselves into the programme. They will be starting on the first day back in Term 2. All were very keen and eager to get going, with some even prepared to give up Saturday afternoons for their training. Big thanks goes to Whetu for his support and yummy cake and tea last night. Good luck to you all and I will catch up with you in early June for our survey class.

Halfway Bush Join our CiH Family

Last night we held our first Parent Registration night for families from Halfway Bush School and Te Kohanga Reo Whanau o Paki. It was a great turnout and as you can see from the photos all participants are well underway getting to "know"each other. They even had time to play around at photo time. They are a keen and eager group, with class days and times already organised with CiH tutor Rebecca South. The first class begins at 4.30pm on the first day back for Term 2. How's that for dedication. Thanks to Winnie and Lucille for working so well together to get both these groups organised. Watch next term for more photos as these classes progress. And finally yes to you all checking out the Blogspot on Day 1, I'm sitting here waiting for your e-mails. Catch you all in Week 5-6.

Computers inHomes Classes are Underway

Well it seems to have taken a while but finally have two new schools all sorted and ready to start their families in training for 2013. Our technician has installed a POD of 9 machines at Halfway Bush School and along with the adjacent Kohanga Reo they are in the process of selecting their 27 families and we are hoping to start the classes just after the Easter break. On top of that the tech spent his Anniversary Weekend break installing a POD of 7 machines at Bathgate Park School. I met with Whetu (the principal) last week and he is all set to start selecting his 21 families to begin training after the Easter break. They are also working closely with the Digital Office to extend the UFB connection trials started last year at Queens High. So watch this space for all the exciting news as it comes to hand.

Stepping UP for 2013

Well another year kicked off this week with the start of our Stepping UP classes for 2013. Once more the classes will be held at Carrisbrook Terrace School. Although this year they will run under the careful leadership of Rebecca South. Classes are being held on a Thursday evening starting at 6pm. So along I went this week and was pleased and impressed to see so many people returning from classes held in 2012. There was a keen turnout and a few even had children along for the experience. I was further taken aback when Rebecca informed that this class did not include participants from the Queens trial classes, who are yet to be contacted even though they have been accosting her in the local supermarket. Lets hope that this all bodes well for future classes. Well done to you all !!!!!!

The holiday season is over

Well by all acounts we have all had a very good and restful holiday and are ready to start back into 2013. I have taken delivery of two sets of POD machines. Tony will be back after the weekend (and his birthday) ready to install one POD of 9 machines at Halfway Bush School and Te Kohanga Reo Whanau o Paki where will be starting two new classes in Term 1 and looking at another class in Term 2. The second POD of 7 machines will be installed at Bathgate Park School, once again where we are looking at holding two classes in Term 1 and another one class in Term 2. Of course we will also be holding one more final class at Carisbrook Terrace for between 10-12 participants. Rebecca South is getting herself sorted to take up the reigns tutoring Stepping UP. Once more these classes will be held in the Carisbrook classroom on a Thursday evening with the first class starting on Thursday 14 February. So it is gearing up to be another busy term in Dunedin. Photos of each new set of participants will be posted very shortly. Hope you all get the chance to have a look and pass some comments.

Final Wrap Up for 2012

Well another busy year has rolled around for Computers in Homes Dunedin. 2012 was a significant year for the project in the south with alot of changes being made. The first and probably the most significant saw our project being adopted by The Digital Office in Dunedin. This finally gave us a niche to call home and concentrate on growing the programme. We also saw a huge donation of used machines from the Otago University, this enabled us to set up a dedicated CTC at Carisbrook Terrace School and with principal, Ben Sincocks, help we really did finally have a home. We marked a New Zealand first by being part of the school UFB trial at Queens High. While it had its teething problems we are confident now that all participants are connected and enjoying their net experience. Next we were able to participate in the first NetHui to be held in the South Island during November. CiH managed to show case Dora at this. Closer to home we have seen some very recent changes in our team. During November we accepted the resignation of our long standing Project Technician, Louis. Louis has been part of the project here in the south since its start in September 2010 and has been a very dedicated and committed member of the team. He will be sadly missed but his place will be taken by Tony Hayward, who has been part the the original team but more in a tutoring perspective. I wish Louis all the best for his future endeavours. Last night also saw the final duty call for our Stepping UP tutor, Neal Johnston. Neals family is rapidly increasing in size and hence the demands on his time are increasing. I thank Neal for all his committment to helping get the Stepping UP programme so successful in Dunedin and wish him and his family well. Rebecca South will be stepping into the breach here and tutoring these classes starting in February 2013. So finally to the team I have the pleasure of working so well with, a huge thank you to you all for your efforts during 2012. It has been a very challenging year but you have all been so supportive of me both personally and professionally. To you all I wish you a Merry Xmas and a Safe and Wonderful New Year. Enjoy your holiday season with your families. Rest up well as we will all be back in 2013 refreshed and ready to go.

December Graduation Wraps up 2012

Another year has been marked with the combined graduation on Tuesday 18th December of both Concord and Carisbrook Schools classes. We saw a big crowd with family eagerly supporting the 24 new graduates. All were keen to get the formalities out of the way and get their new machines home and set up just in time for the children finishing school for the holidays. While it is a bust time of the year for the schools and their staff, thanks goes to Concord principal Steve Turnbill, who stepped into the gap and assisted with the awarding of certificates. Once more the graduation was marked with alot of interest being registered for Stepping UP classes next year. We also had six Stepping UP people graduating and celebrating the completion of at least four steps. One student celebrated the completion of all 16 steps and well done to her is now waiting and more than willing to begin her KiwiSkills training. So congratulations to all and I hope you have many happy hours of entertainment from your machines during this holiday break.

December 2012 Graduation on PhotoPeach

NetHuiSouth Comes to Dunedin

NetHui hit the south island for the first time ever over the weekend.

Teresa giving her Presentation with a
little support from Janine Moore

The programme started on Friday afternoon with the formal opening and then some interesting presentations. We had a chance to have some input into the discussions after the tea break with an open forum being held at the Museum.

The Digital Divide panel with Di and
Leona taking centre stage.

This was followed by some networking drinks. The Computers in Homes group (or those who had not had an early start)went out for dinner and back for some much needed rest for Saturday. The next day kicked off with our chance to really showcase ourselves with a ten minute presentation being given by local CiH participant Teresa Sinclair, about her journey. This was the springboard into the panel debate on The Digital Divide.

Project co-ordinator Janine Moore getting
a chance to put across the CiH viewpoint
 during an open discussion time

The day followed along the debate lines with some very interesting panels and rousing debates. The local CiH team were invited to board DORA and participate in an online KiwiSkills class and those wanting to complete their exams were given the opportunity.

Dunedins CiH & Stepping UP team get
a chance to put DORA through her paces.

DORA made her debut in Duneidn in style. Although Janine had done her level best to try and ruin DORA with the local terrain she made it to the Museum and spent the two days in pride of place. All in all it was a great couple of days. Dunedin turned on the best of weather and made for an awesome event.

Dora taking pride of place outside the
entrance to Otago Museum.

Term 4 Starts in Dunedin

Well it seems to have been a very slow start to Term 4 in Dunedin. We had a number of family infrmation nights planned but unfortunately the cold weather seems to have kept everyone inside in the warm. Finally witht he start of week two all are starting to poke their heads out as the sun starts to shine. We have managed to get together four different classes for this term at two differnet schools. So tutoring work has been nicely divided between the sets of tutors and all will combine together for a graduation on Tuesday 18 December at Carrisbrook School. We will be looking a graduating another 6-10 Stepping UP participants at this graduation as well. So to the events of this week. All classes began Lesson One this week. We have a Monday class at Carisbrook Terrace School, 4- 6.30pm. This class is being tutored by Rebecca South. Tuesday we have another class at Carisbrook Terrace from 5.30-8pm, this class is also tutored by Rebecca South. Tuesdays also another class at Concord 6-8.30pm. This class is tutored by Tony & Liz Haywrad. Wednesday rounds off Computres in Homes classes with another class at Carisbrrok Terrace 4-6.30pm. This class is tutored by Tony & Liz Hayward. Stepping UP classes complete the week on Thursday evening 5.30-7.30pm and are tutored by Neal Johnston. This class has some people travelling from Pine Hill to be part of it and they all seem to be very dedicated to completing more than the 4 required steps. Well done to you all for taking up these opportunities. I look forward to catching up with the CiH participants as I make the rounds of the classes and am always pleased to receive an e-mail from each participant each week. Hope you're all getting your replies. If I miss anyone (unintentionally) I will be back to each class during the first week of December to help you all through your Online Surveys and arrange an Internet connection for you all. So until them sit bck and enjoy the CiH experience and maybe check out the photos.

Stepping UP Graduation in September

Well we have acheived our final graduation for Term 3 of this year, with the presentation of ten more Stepping UP participants. This group have gone well beyond the required four steps, with most of them completing the full sixteen steps. It was great to celebrate with such a dedicated group of people. We even had a mother and daughter team, who completed the course together. Celine had to accompany her mum Karen to the classes as she had noone to watch her. They asked if they could both participate and sixteen weeks later both received their certificates together. What a great example of family learning alongside each other. Check out the photos and see how pleased they are with themselves. Stepping UP Graduation September 2012 on PhotoPeach