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