All the Hard Work is about to Pay Off

Well it's that time of the year again as just under half of our families who have undertaken the programme are about to reap the rewards of all their hard work. We have a class from Port Chalmers School graduating on 26th May. Then Silverstream sees a class graduating on 30th May. Then a class from Carisbrook School and Portabello School will both celebrate in the first two weeks of June. Congratulations to you all and keep an eye out for photos to be posted. I'd also like to welcome a class of 12 participants who have started training during the last couple of weeks at Carisbrook School POD, and yes I will catch up with you all over the next couple of weeks. While I have this chance I would like to farewell Rebecca South. She has really put her heart and soul into not only Computers in Homes but also Stepping UP and KiwiSkills. Unfortunately she has taken up full time employment. I know I can speak on behalf of all the participants, and all my fellow work mates in saying we wish her well for the future and thanking her for all her selfless conviction to all our programmes and people. We will keep in touch with her and you never know where she may pop up again.

Registrations for 2016 Get Underway

This week has seen us start again for the 2016 year with participants registering for classes that will start next week. At the moment we have the numbers for 2 classes at Carisbrook although there is still a couple of spaces still available. We have a Info/Registration night at Silverstream School in Mosgiel next week with the hope of having one class there along with Stepping UP. The following week we are holding an Info/Registration night at Portabello School with the hope of having one class there. Finally we are canvassing for participants at Port Chalmers with the hope of holding a class there alongside a Stepping UP class. It's been really positive with the feedback and interest I received over the Xmas holidays. Maybe it's the hot weather and the hope of completing before the snow arrives. Watch this space for updates.

2015 Round Up

Well 2015 finished in very quiet and peaceful type of way considering all the hype about Xmas. The last group to graduate came from Carisbrook School. The school was very busy with the last week of year underway. so the parents concerned all decided on a small informal graduation after class. Also invited were the Stepping UP graduates who had been working all term with Rebecca South.

Unfortunately, despite all my best efforts three of the graduates had to wait until the new Year for their Internet connections. Hopefully they were overcome with Xmas cheer to notice the lack of a connection. What better present could you give your kids for New Year anyway.

There are not a lot of photos but below are the few for your viewing.

Final Classes for 2015 Well Underway

Well it seems like only a short time ago that we were starting 2015 with great gusto. We have two classes well underway to graduation in December. One class is being hosted by Silverstream School but also includes families from nearby St. Marys School, all out at Mosgiel. This class is over the halfway mark and have all selected their machine options and Internet options. This class wanted a low key no fuss graduation after their final class on the 9th December at 7pm. We will be inviting their families to come and share this with them. Photos will follow. We have a second class being hosted at Carisbrook School and this is a little newer than the other one. While participants have indicated their machine choice I will be visiting during the first week of December to complete their Internet selection. These keen people have been doing two classes per week to allow them to graduate before the Xmas break. Their graduation will also be a low key no fuss event on 10th December following the catch up class. We will invite family members to come along and share this with them. Again photos will follow. Below is half the Carisbrook class during one of the earlier classes.

September Graduation at Carisbrook

September Graduation 2015-Formal on PhotoPeach Well another big graduation was held recently at Carisbrook School. It saw some thirty families getting the rewards for their hard-work over the past 10 weeks. At least 90% of the graduates made use of the subsidies for the Internet using UFB and for those who have not got the cabling yet they took up the Naked DSL connection in the meantime. All except three also took the option of having a laptop machine as opposed to a desk top and most stated convenience as their main reason for their choices. We also had some 15 people graduate from Stepping UP, although only a couple of dedicated Silverstream people turned up to receive their certificates. With most classes finished there quite a few have indicated a wish to go onto KiwiSkills, with the views to gaining or bettering their employment. Feel free to check out some of the photos below. September 2015 Graduation on PhotoPeach

Graduation Time for Port Chalmers School

Today saw the graduation of nine families from Port Chalmers School. All the celebration was shared with their children and grand children. Thanks to principal Vikki Nicholson for making it possible for these kids to get out of class to be part of the event. It was great to catch up with this wonderful class and to hear that they will all be back next Thursday to start their Stepping UP classes. I managed to get a chance to talk to each participant and get to hear about their excitement to learn. In one participants words. She is so excited to get her machine and her UFB install tomorrow morning that she probably won't be able to sleep tonight. Check out the photos below and see some very big smiles. Well done to you all. You're a great set of role models to your families. Port Chalmers Graduation 2015 on PhotoPeach

Starting Again in Dunedin

Classes are back underway in Dunedin. We have a class at Port Chalmers that is held on a Thursday morning and they are due to graduate on 17th September. They have selected their type of machine and their Internet connections. This had proved rather difficult as some aren't even appearing on the radar for a connection. Still fingers crossed. We will do our best for you. We have three classes running through the CTC at Carisbrook. These are on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. They will graduate on 16th September. Al have now completed their machine choice and their Internet connections. I have included some photos of some of these participants completing their paperwork. We also have another class running out at Silverstream and this will start mid September and graduate by the end of November. This class is made up of families from a number of schools in the Mosgiel area. Another busy term that is well under way. Paperwork Classes on PhotoPeach

No News For Awhile

We have had no posts put up over the past couple of months due to ill health. During this time we had a huge graduation in May. This was a combined set of classes from both Silverstream School and Carisbrook School. It also included the Stepping UP graduates as well. I love these celebrations but was unable to attend this one. Thanks must go to Libby Cleverley, Silverstream Principal, and Di Das, National Coordinator for Computers in Homes, and the CiH team in Dunedin for making this happened for everyone. The biggest thanks must go to all the graduates, who accepted my absence but still went ahead to have an amazing time. I have caught with alot of them now and all seem happy with their machines and have had no hassles with them. All are now enjoying their machines and Internet connections. Here are the photos for you all to have a browse through. Graduation May 2015 on PhotoPeach May Graduation-Take 2 on PhotoPeach

We welcome Silverstream School onboard

Well we have ventured into another school in Mosgiel. Silverstream School held their first parent Info / Registration meeting on Wednesday 18th February. There was a good turn out of families with further registering an interest in taking part this term. We have a definite two classes running this intake. Starting Week 5 (2 March) we will be holding classes on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6-8.30pm and another class scheduled to start on Monday 3.30-6pm if we have the numbers. One of the big questions asked was if we could include grand parents. All families have been assured that we are happy to see this happen and Principal Libby Cleverly indicated the school would be happy for this to happen. So we are expecting these spaces to fill up quickly over the next 10 days. Thanks to Tony (our technician) the POD was installed last week in preparation. Families were taken over to see the space provided and get their bearings before they start. Thanks to Silverstream community. You were all very welcoming and we are hoping for a lengthy relationship here.

2015 Starts with Huge Numbers

Well 2015 is well underway for us in Dunedin. We are currently installing a new POD of machines at Silverstream School in Mosgiel this coming weekend. A parent info evening and registrations will be held at the school staffroom next Wednesday 18th February at 6pm. Classes will begin during the following week. We already have a waiting list of 12 families from the end of 2014 and are looking to add another 18 families. This will give us evening classes at Mosgiel running on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6-8.30pm. We also held a family info and registration evening at Carisbrook School where families from Dunedin city area had the chance to come onboard. we have a huge waiting list here but were able to take on board another 30 families for training starting next week. These classes will run on Monday & Tuesday evening 6-8.30pm and Friday 3.30-6pm. These families are taking part in a new pilot scheme for 2020 during the start of 2015. At graduation time they will have the opportunity to select either a desktop or laptop as their preference for hardware.This will give us a total 112 families for the 2014-15 year. We also had 2 enrollments from The Correspondence School, who are now looking at doing their modules online. Thanks to those families who travelled for 3 hours (round trip) to be included. Check out a class of likely prospects at Carisbrook.

Combined Graduation to End 2014 in Dunedin

Well Tuesday 21st October saw nearly half of our annual allotment of families graduate. It had it's moments with three different venues and times and then two Principals at meetings and one very unwell BUT we pulled it off in the end. We had 43 families graduating from three different schools, Halfway Bush, Brockville, and Carisbrook. We also had 13 participants graduating from Stepping UP classes being held in Carisbrook and Brockville Schools. There was also eight children from Halfway Bush School who received their iPad Minis through our BYOD scheme. It was an absolutely huge night but the team enjoyed meeting all the families and catching up with families they had been training over the past term and a half. Once more we were blown away by the numbers indicating they were wanting to attend next weeks Stepping UP classes and these will be held at Halfway Bush and Carisbrook. We were also pleased to see 50% of all families taking up the subsidised Internet option. All this means we should have some pretty switched on and connected families all over Dunedin this summer holidays. Hope you enjoy checking out the photos from the not so shy participants on the night. Thanks to all three Principals Ben Sincock (Carisbrook), Craig Hickford (Brockville) and Brian Filipo (halfway Bush). Your support of the programme and your families and wider communities has been amazing. Combined Grad Oct 2014 on PhotoPeach

Pinehill Start our End of Year Graduations

Well 2014  seems to be rapidly coming to an end with all our classes finishing their training. The little group at Pinehill School started them off last week. They chose to have a smaller (more intimate) graduation sharing it with family and few others.
They completed their final class at 7 pm on Monday 20th October and went straight into graduation. All seemed keen to get home with their new toys and have a play.
This class were the only class that has been through Computers in Home sin Dunedin with a 100% attendance. I could set my watch by the time I received their e-mails each week.
At the celebration it was really awesome to hear that of the seven graduating five are going to be returning next week, same place same time to start the Stepping UP training.
What awesome role models you are. Well done.

Pinehill Grad 2014 on PhotoPeach

Dunedin Mark Another First

Well it's definitely taken some time coming, and a BIG thank you to the very patient participants for waiting BUT KiwiSkills is here.
Our first class registered at Brockville toady and will continue to study online using their machines and Internet at home over the next 12 months. They will also have access to class assistance using the POD at Halfway Bush.
A big thanks must go to their tutor Rebecca South. She believed in this programme and was committed to seeing it be offered in Dunedin. She has attended our latest two NCCG meetings to "keep shaking the cages of the powers that be" and here is the reward.
Well done all. I'm looking forward to seeing the progress.
Check out this link for a more in depth review

http://icdl.co.nz/news/2014/10/23/dunedin-first-roll-kiwiskills-21c/

Welcome to our new 2014-15 year. What a start !!!!!!

Class at Halfway Bush on PhotoPeach
Well there is no denying that the grapevine is still strong in Dunedin.


Word has got out that we have secured the funding for another 100 families for this financial year and my phone has rung off the hook.


So for those who may still not know our current classes here is a run down of the classes for the remainder of 2014.


We have three classes running at Carisbrook School. These are on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 6-8.30 pm. They are tutored by Liz and Tony.


There is a Monday evening class at Pinehill from 6-8.30pm and this is tutored by Rebecca.


There is a day class at Halfway Bush on a Wednesday from 9.30-12 noon. All of these classes are now full or over flowing.


We will be starting another class at Brockville next week and the day and time is still to be decided. This class does have a couple of places still available. If you are interested just contact the school office.


We have two Stepping UP classes running. One at Carisbrook on Thursday from 6pm and the other at Brockville on a Friday morning starting at 9.30 am. We also have some ready to start KiwiSkills. So if you're one of them keep your eyes and ears peeled. In the meantime check out a couple of photos  of our starting classes.
Carisbrook Wednesday Class on PhotoPeach

Final Graduation for 2013-14

Unfortunately I was unable to attend this graduation but was happy to leave it to the capable team to hold. I managed to catch up with all except a couple of the participants during the final weeks of classes to arrange their Internet Connections and complete their surveys. All seemed eager to get their hands on their machines once graduated. I heard more then once however how quickly they felt the eight weeks of training had passed. This was made evident by the big number wanting to take advantage of the following terms Stepping UP classes at both Carisbrook and Brockville Schools. So I can't really comment on the graduation, apart from saying it has all been very positive feedback. So I hope you enjoy looking through the photos as much as I did. Finally keep your eyes glued here. Funding has been secured for our 2014-15 year and classes will be starting again in a couple of weeks. Final Graduation for 2013-14 on PhotoPeach