Sunday 17 November 2013

The community of Kawakawa reaps the rewards once again :)

The Bay of Islands College (BOIC) is nestled on a ridge as you head east to Paihia - the gateway to the Bay of Islands.  BOIC  plays a really important role in the community, not only serving the educational needs of the tamariki, but acting as a community education hub.  It's a place where mums', dads' and caregivers can go to learn and up-skill, and hosting the Computers in Homes aptly proves this point.

On 12 November 2013, the College graduated another 21 families under the guidance of Head of IT, Briony Johnston.  Briony often goes that extra mile for her families.  One Mum couldn't make class on the given night, so Briony gave up a lunchtime each week to train her one-on-one.  As CiH coordinator,  I'm extremely lucky to have such an amazing CiH team in BOIC.

Thank you to everyone who plays a role in bringing our programme together, I know I've said it a lot, but I could not do it without you :)

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Thursday 14 November 2013

First timers - Whangaruru School - Graduate in style

On 7 November 2013, at the beautiful Whangaruru School on the east coast of Northland, 8 families graduated from the Computers in Homes programme.  I was fortunate enough to attend and watch the kids, parents, grandparents and teachers interact.  What a cool kura!  They may be a small school, but what they lack in size they certainly make up for in mana.

Thank you Kuini Pugh for your dedication to your school community.  Thank you for chasing me for communication, I'm sorry I wasn't always initially available.  You were gorgeous to deal with and I'm always so thankful to work with people like yourself.

The kids of Whangaruru School - you are awesome too!  You listened carefully when I was talking, you respected your elders when they received their certificates and your singing was out of this world.

Congratulations to everyone involved, it was my pleasure and indeed privilege to bring you the Computers in Homes programme.

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Wednesday 13 November 2013

Hora Hora School at it's finest once again!......

In early Term 3 2013, Assistant Principal Mr Richard Buckland, selflessly put up his hand again to tutor a room full of Hora Hora parents in how to use computers.  And he, once again, did a magnificent job!!

Every Tuesday night for 10 weeks he shared his knowledge of the internet, file management, word processing, spread sheeting and security and safety.   He didn't get flustered when 14 parents were asking lots of questions, he didn't make people feel silly when they weren't sure what to do and he didn't ever demand more from them than what they could each cope with.  An awesome tutor of parents and even greater teacher of children.

Thank you Richard, thank you Hora Hora School and thank you participating parents.  You've all been a pleasure to deal with.  Enjoy your new digital resource in your home.

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Wednesday 25 September 2013

Te Roroa Learning Assistance Term 3 2013

This year Te Roroa Learning Assistance teamed up with Computers in Homes to bring our digital technology programme to their Tongan community.  And what a success it was too!  With translator Osai helping TRLA trainer Errol during trainings, the below families learnt heaps of new skills.  At least 6 participants are going to continue on their learning computers with TRLA which is absolutely outstanding.  Thanks to everyone who was involved.

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Tikipunga High Represent!

I simply adore going to Tikipunga High for Computers in Homes graduations.  You know why?  The kura and it's people understand CIH.  They get it.  They appreciate it and are always so thankful to have hosted it.  Here's a Smilebox slideshow this time (I usually use Photopeach) of the afternoon we spent together.  Congratulations to the 11 parents who graduated and thank you so much to trainer Annaliese Story and Deputy Principal Lindsay Dunn for your support.  It's unwavering as ever!

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Saturday 24 August 2013

Manaia View School graduate 20 August 2013

Channel North TV

Manaia View School was the first school in Northland to run the CIH programme in early 2009.  Since then, they have always made room for our programme in their curriculum and have never, ever, turned down the opportunity to train more parents from their school community.

Now, in 2013, they have competed what could well be their last class.  And as per usual they looked after their participants and ensured they got first class tutoring.  Trainer Gareth Mauchline, who in his 9-5 job is a Producer at Channel North, Whangarei's local television station always enjoys his CIH role and has the lessons down to a fine art.  Thanks again Gareth for your continued support of CIH.  As a coordinator, it's heartening to deal with someone who goes the extra mile for our families.

Manaia View School Term 3 2013 on PhotoPeach

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Pilot project completes at Selwyn Park School - Dargaville

Selwyn Park School is a very lucky school.  They have a Principal running the place who totally understands his community and its tamariki.  Mr Vern Stevens jumped on board the Computers in Homes train from the minute I explained our ethos.  He, quite simply, "gets it".
 
The aim of Computers in Homes is to bridge the 'digital divide', to ensure school-aged children in NZ have access to the ICT resources.  Vern's school is ICT focused and he liked the sound being able to reach his students and parents online.  He endorsed our concept of training a Mum/Dad/Caregiver so they had the necessary skills to use the computer and help their children with their homework.

So in early Term 2, trainer extraordinaire Debbie Green come on board and CIH commenced:

Debbie Green teaching her wonderful students
Parents training at Selwyn Park School, Dargaville

I then started to receive emails from the parents in training.  The feedback was phenomenal:

hey there sue its ******* here just writing to say that I am having heaps of fun here at school with deb. she has shown me a whole heap of cool things to do with the internet computer folders and heaps of awesome addresses also for kids use..well just dropped in to say hi and hope all is well today we have very slack weather we have rain,hail,lighting and thunder,,so keep warm be safe and see you when we see you..

Hi sue sorry for disturbance, using this opportunity as student for learning how to create, compose and send email. thanks for support, ****** *******

Kia Ora 
My name is ******* *********i am one of many parents learning how to use computers 
through your course at selwyn park school its awsum!! and the tutor debz makes it easy as pie
 thank you for this opportunity  
c ya
 
10 weeks later they graduated and there were smiles all round.  Many parents we so thankful for the opportunity of not only the training but receiving a computer to take home.  A number said they never would have thought they'd have a computer in their home.  Ever.  So it was a great vibe at the graduation.  The students were proud of their Mums and Dads and were excited about getting their machine home.  Click the below link to watch a slideshow of the graduation: 
Selwyn Park School graduates on PhotoPeach

Tuesday 14 May 2013

A new Blog....2013

Hi everyone

This is the new BlogSpot for Computers in Homes, Northland.  Unfortunately my previous one of four years has gone by the wayside, hence my new site.

Feel free to follow my blog, make comments and be a part of the Computers in Homes experience in our awesome region!

I'm still learning the new layout of Blogger within my Google+ account, so I'm sure this site will become better the more I use it.

A big thank you to all the schools who have participated in our programme since July 2009.  I'm really disappointed that all your photos and my posts have gone, but if you want any pix I have them all saved so just flick me a text or email :)

Here is the list of schools who have been involved over the past four years.  If you're interested in participating in the CiH experience, and one of your schools is listed below, get in touch with them and enquire about the programme:

Bay of Islands College
Bream Bay College
Manaia View School
Portland School
Hora Hora School
Whau Valley School
Onerahi Primary School
Te Roroa Learning Assistance
Dargaville High School
Whananaki School
Motatau School
Tikipunga Primary School
Tikipunga High School
Totara Grove School
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Rawhiti Roa
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Taumarere
Wellsford School
155 Community House
Morningside School
Whangarei Intermediate School
Selwyn Park Primary School