Class of 2015

On Tuesday we started our year with 12 wonderful women in the Marton ICT Hub.  This will be out last Computers in Homes class in Marton until 2016.  Everyone is really excited.

Next week we start our first class in Raetihi Primary School for the Whanganui Region.  Historically Raetihi was not in our region but in 2015 our boundaries changed and we now work from Marton to Ohakune to Patea and everything in between (especially Whanganui).  So if you are keen to have Computers in Homes at your school and you are in our Region then let your principal know to contact use.

In mid March we have classes going at:

a) Tawhero School starting Tues 10 March 9.30am to 12pm

b) Keith Street School starting Wed 11 March from 9.30am to 12pm

c) St Marcellin School starting Wed 11 March from 5.30pm to 8pm

d) Castecliff School from Thursday 12 March 9.30am to 12pm and possibly 6 - 8.30pm

If you are keen then register with the schools.  There are a few places left.  Then you too can be part of our marvellous celebrations.  This photo is from a graduation in Marton last year.

Happy New Year and New Timetable

What a beautiful start to the new year with this wonderful weather.  Our team are busily preparing for the coming year.  There have been some changes to the timetable so here is the new timetable. Below the timetable I have put the criteria again to remind you about how we roll.  Let's work together and make 2015 a great year.


Planned courses starting 2015

In Whanganui

Whanganui Learning Centre      Wed 18 Feb 9.15 to 11.45am            232 Wickstead Street

Tawhero School                         Tues 10 Mar 9.30am to 12pm        Totara St, Gonville

Keith Street School                    Wed 11 Mar 9.30am to 12pm or Tues 5.30pm to 8pm - Central

St Marcellin School                    Wed 11 Mar 5.30pm to 8pm - Totara St, Gonville

Castlecliff School                       Thurs 12 Mar 9.30am to 12pm and/or 6 - 8.30pm - Polson St

Enroll at the schools directly please during school hours.  

Courses run for 8 weeks and you must do ALL 8 weeks.

In Raetihi

We are also doing classes in Raetihi Primary School starting either late Feb or early Mar please contact the school for details.

In Marton (last one for 2015)

Marton ICT Hub                       Tues 24 Feb 6 to 8.30pm       Marton 33 Lower High Street

Our Criteria

Note:

·         Grandparents raising grandchildren or doing daily after school care fit our criteria as well.

·         Tablets and smartphones and work laptops don’t count as having a computer but laptops or computers in the home do.

What you get:

1. 20 Hours free training on using a computer
2. Quality reconditioned PC loaded with MS Office 2010 and Windows 7
3. Subsidised internet for 12 months
4. Serviced computers for 12 months
5. Free ongoing training is available

Programme for 2015 What a wonderful year is coming.

Here is where and when we are starting in 2015

WANGANUI

Whanganui Learning Centre starting Wednesday 18 February 9.15 to 12pm

Keith Street School starting Tuesday 3 March 9.30am to 12pm

Tawhero School starting Tuesday 10 March 12.30 to 3pm


St Marcellin School, Tawhero starting Wednesday 11 March 5.30 to 8pm

OTHER AREAS

Marton ICT Hub starting Tuesday 24 February 6pm to 8.30pm

Raetihi Thursday 26 February 12 - 2.30pm and 5.30 - 8pm

Contact the school to register your interest but check our criteria and what you get below first!  Our goal is to enable all NZ children to access technology so we only work with families with children. Computers in Homes is about making sure our kids have access to technology so they can be all they can learn at home. As parents we need to keep up with technology so our kids don’t get left behind.

What you get is:


a) Quality reconditioned PC with MS Office 2010 and Win 7

b) Subsidised internet for one year

c) We look after your PC for 12 months

d) Training for 20 hours plus more if you need it

Huge Celebration in Whanganui in November 2014

On 12 November we gathered to celebrate the graduation of 27 Computers in Homes and 30 Stepping Up graduates.  We could not have had worse weather with hail, storms and wind but our wonderful families and guests braved the elements and came to celebrate our families success.  Despite the weather it was a celebration of colour, flowers, computers and relationships.  Thank you to all those who come.

We haven't had a combined celebration before - but we certainly will again.  It was great to all come together to celebrate.  This time we gathered to celebrate Aranui School, Wanganui Intermediate, Born and Raised Pasifika and Whanganui Learning Centre graduates as well as Stepping Up.

Aranui School

Wanganui Intermediate School

Born and Raised Pasifika

Whanganui Learning Centre

Here is the slideshow of our evening

Graduation Celebrations In Whanganui on PhotoPeach

 

Story of Community in Marton

Every graduation is unique and Marton graduations are an amazing community celebration.  This October 2014  we had 13 mums graduating from four schools - Marton Junction School, James Cook School, Rangitikei College and Marton School.

The amazing thing in Marton is how the schools work together - in particular Marton Junction and James Cook Schools with the Marton ICT hub to make sure their parents get access to technology.

Computers in Homes has a lot of people involved to make it happen - the principals, the trainer, the volunteers who give their time, the translator the technician and we are hugely grateful to them all.  Without the efforts of everyone we simply would not be able to offer this very successful model of working together to support us all.

It's not often we start with a class and have a 100% completion.  Congratulations to you all.  Thank you for being a wonderful group of people and we trust your whanau will enjoy your computers!

Also a special thanks to the Marton Junction children who made our celebration so special.

Marton Graduation October 2014 on PhotoPeach

Thank you Computers in Homes from Whanganui Learning Centre Graduates

On 16 September we gained 9 new graduates to our Computers in Homes families.  These 7 mums and 2 dads, like all of our families were doing Computers in Homes mainly for their kids.  They also have their own goals of studying and retraining.  We hope that their goals and aspirations for their families are helped by having a computer at home.  We really appreciated the gratitude that was expresses by the families for the teaching and learning they received and the opportunity that Computers in  Homes has given them.

We had a inspirational speech from Victoria Campbell   who spoke of how many years ago it was her first computer class that set her on a course of learning and now she is in graphic design and has been very successful.  She spoke of how she uses technology in her life and how she couldn't be without it now from telling her where she needs to be, to having the information on her tablet where ever she is.

It was great to have our MP Chester Borrows at our small gathering and to help with our certificates.

Congratulations to everyone and many thanks to the team both at Whanganui Learning Centre and Computers in Homes Whanganui for a lovely celebration of learning.

And here are all our graduates.

Whanganui Learning Centre Sept 2014 on PhotoPeach

Needing a computer at home to help your kids with their homework?

Computers in Homes is here to make sure all kids can access technology at home so no one misses out.  There are criteria so that we make sure that everyone gets a go.  I have been asked recently why people cannot do it again when they did it years ago and the computer is long dead.

The reason is so everyone gets a go.  Here in Whanganui there are 1,000 homes, with children, who have no access to technology.  That means 1,000 homes where children are finding it tough to do their homework, research their interests and engage with the digital world.  Computers in Homes is to give people a taste of what technology can do for them and their children.  And opportunity to experience and then become self reliant.  That is why we have our criteria.

The other thing people ask is $50 is a lot of money.  We know it is but relative to what you get it is enough that you become committed to learning and engaging with technology and finishing the course and not so much as a create an issue.  Here is Whanganui we ask people to pay $20 deposit to ensure they come to the course and $5 per week for the first six weeks.  We try to give plenty of notice of the courses coming up.   For the $50 you get a reconditioned computer with Windows 7 and MS Office 2010, we look after technical support for 12 months and internet is subsidised for 12 months.

Here is our criteria

This is where courses are running.  To join up go to the school and register:

GONVILLE :  Rutherford Junior High (Toi Street) starting Wed 3 Sept 9.30am to 12pm (8 weeks)

CITY:  Wanganui Intermediate (Dublin Street) starting Wed 3 Sept 12.30 to 3pm (8 weeks)

ARAMOHO:  Born and Raised Pasifika (2 Mitchell Street)  Thurs 28 August 12 to 2.30pm

CASTECLIFF:  Aranui School (Aranui Street)  Tuesday 2 Sept 9.30am to 12pm (8 weeks)

All parents, grandparents and after school carers of school children are welcome.

All