General

GCSN is arranging the following events through term two.  Sign up on our events calendar

A Microsoft Office 365 Workshop

This workshop is a continuation of the sessions held towards the end of 2012.  The workshop is scheduled for 28 May between 3:30 and 5pm at the CDC premises at 99 Cashel St in the Re:Start Mall opposite the Hummingbird Coffee lounge.  

 An exciting BYOD session on 10 June at the Russley Golf Club on Memorial Avenue.   

We are delighted to have Russell Burt from Point England School in Auckland and Mark Osborne - ex Albany Senior High School and now with CORE  as high profile speakers for this session.  This event is proving to be very popular.  Make sure you register for:  

• the secondary school session from 9am to 11am
• the primary school session from 1:30 to 3:00.
• the technical session from 3:30pm to 5pm

A primary champions meeting at Thorrington School on Wednesday 5 June at 3:30

The e-Learning Planning Framework will be an important part of the session along with brief presentations from a few primary schools about their IT journey.  Contact  margot.mckeegan@gcsn.school.nz. for further details.

The Skills Organisation launch in Christchurch  

Russley Golf Course -   at 12:15 on Friday 7 June.

This event is  for careers teachers and other staff with an interest in employment opportunities for students.  Christchurch business leaders, Peter Townsend and Tom Holland,  will be attending this session as well.  Contact carol.moffatt@gcsn.school.nz for further details.    

A further Kevin Honeycutt session    

Friday 7 June at 8:30am at Linwood College.

If you missed the inspirational sessions in term one, here is your chance to experience this motivational speaker.  Check out his website  http://kevinhoneycutt.org/

Keep an eye on our events calendar for further details of forthcoming sessions looking at wireless solutions for your school.  .  

$136 million investment fast tracks school network upgrades - Wireless to be included in SNUP Programme

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the Government will invest $136 million over the next four years to complete the School Network Upgrade Project (SNUP) by 2016 - two years ahead of schedule.  Wireless capacity will be included in the school network upgrade process starting in June of this year.

GCSN activities

 Learning communities and MoE clusters

GCSN is presently working with a number of local MoE clusters to support the development of learning communities  If other schools in your cluster are interested in getting more traction in developing such communities please contact carol.moffatt@gcsn.school.nz  

 My Portfolio

Pascale Hyboud-Peron has recently led four  highly successful one-day My Portfolio in-school workshops in local secondary schools.  Contact  carol.moffatt@gcsn.school.nz if you are interested in arranging future sessions  

 Future events

The GCN team is arranging a number of professional development opportunities for term two.  Keep a close eye on our events calendar for sessions in such areas as BYOD and eLPF on-line tool for GCSN schools

 Workchoice Trust

GCSN has formed a working relationship with this organisationthat  runs two programmes.  You can see further information about Workchoice Day  on 11^th June 2013 and the new  Teachers’ Workchoice Day on 23 August    

 Careers in Technology and Science  -  video conferencing opportunities

Futureintech is once again presenting a number of opportunities for Christchurch schools to participate in video linked presentations given by industry.  Monday 15^th April 2:00 – 2:30 pm.  Grant Ryan from Yike Bike will present the story of his Yike Bike invention.  If you would like to link in please email Catherine Smith christchurch@futureintech.org.nz.  Further information following.   Read here to view previous video conferenced Futureintech sessions.   

Reminders

Bulk purchasing

Bulk purchasing for IPADs, netbooks and android tablets will continue through 2013. iPad Iv’s and Mac Minis are now available as well! Contact mike.hilliard@gcsn.school.nz

 GCSN on Twitter

You can follow us on twitter @GCSN_NZ or view our profile at http://twitter.com/GCSN_NZ.

 Future directions for ICT development

EDUIGNITE EVENING - Ignite presenters share their personal and professional passions, using 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds for a total of just five minutes. Come hear some amazing and inspiring presenters .Wednesday 17th April 6pm- at Riccarton Library booking info link

FORTHCOMING EVENT

Kevin Honeycutt  is an inspirational speaker who advocates using technology in innovative ways to enhance student learning.  

GCSN is delighted to be able to arrange a variety of sessions with Kevin in Christchurch on Tuesday 5 March and Wednesday 6 March

For event details see our website

Kevin’s focus is on Learn 2 Love 2 Learn - Connecting With Learners

The killer app for 21st century is to teach kids to Learn To Love To Learn but how do we do this? Kevin will demonstrate that infusing passion and context into your teaching is a good place to start.

Join Kevin as a teacher with some students to experience the power of L2L2L

Two types of sessions will run during the two days at various schools around Christchurch

• Keynote for teachers - open to all teachers in the area
• workshop is for one teacher and 4 students for each school registered.  There is  a strict maximum of 35 participants for these sessions  –so first in first booked -$50 per school group.

Want to know more about Kevin.........check him out here.

See Kevin talking on Ed Talks –
“Inviting teachers into the light”   or
Join the kids on the 21st century playground!  and talking about hispassion for music.

Check out his website  http://kevinhoneycutt.org/  - especially his bio, blog and his sample of keynotes.  

The whole site is pretty amazing – heaps of great stuff here!
Also look at  https://twitter.com/kevinhoneycutt

2012 has been a demanding year as the impact of the earthquakes of 2011 have continued to have a serious impact and as the education community has reacted to the Ministry of Education merger and closure proposals.  We hope that everyone is able to have a well deserved and relaxing break over the vacation.  Thanks to those who were able to attend our highly successful function for school champions and vendors towards the end of November.   The next newsletter will arrive at the beginning of February 2013.

GCSN events

We were delighted to announce on 30 November that we have applied for and received a significant donation through the Department of Internal Affairs to provide a generous allocation of digital devices and software to support students attending eleven badly affected primary schools in the Pegasus area of east Christchurch.

We are in the final stages of applying for funding from the Ministry of Education to continue our work in supporting ICT development across all Christchurch schools until June 2013.  We very much appreciate the many comments from schools in acknowledging the value of the efforts of GCSN.  

We are sorry to farewell Coralie Stopford from our GCSN team.  Our congratulations to Coralie on her success in winning the position of Director of e-Learning at Epsom Girls’ Grammar  School from the beginning of 2013.  Her contribution to the work of GCSN during 2012 has been immense.   

Getting ready for 2013

Exciting planning for teacher PD opportunities for 2013 is already well under way. We are pleased to have emerging e-leaders part two and and a new intake for emerging e-leaders, programmes run in conjunction with Core-ed.   Enrolment details will be uploaded to our website.  Book to secure  your place.

If you require any information on GCSN’s favourable deal with The Total Team about internet provision and our bulk buying proposals for iPads, Netbooks and Tablets,  please contact mike.hilliard@gcsn.school.nz     

The Ministry has extended the  Microsoft software licensing, Watchdog web filtering and firewalls and the Symantec anti-virus licensing agreements through to December 31st 2013.  Further information

Forthcoming events during the next two weeks on ourGCSN events calendar

• Office365 - Next Session Friday  26 October , 2m to 4.30pm.  CDC Board Room,  99 Cashel St   

Future events - book a place

• MyPortfolio (Mahara) training - If there is interest, GCSN can once more obtain the services of Pascale Hyboud-Peron to provide more in-school half-day training.   A  POLL has been placed on the right hand side of the GCSN website Home page to gather an indication of interest - please fill this in.  Please email coralie.stopford@gcsn.school.nz with further details regarding level of training  and preferred weeks.
• Introduction to Virtual Learning Classroom - For any teacher interested in learning about senior classes run over the VLN.   GCSN has an opportunity to run a one day workshop on Friday 23 November or Monday 26 November. Please email Margot.mckeegan@gcsn.school.nz with your date preference and an indication of number of staff interested.

Internet provider information  

As you will be aware, GCSN has been able to arrange a very favourable deal with The Total Team and FX Networks to provide an uncapped data plan for school internet use.  The deal has many other features, including bandwidth that is dedicated exclusively for GCSN member schools’ use.  Very favourable deals are also available for schools using ADSL and VDSL services on copper.  It’s not just for schools on fibre!.  If you are considering the issue of internet provision and would like more information, please contact mike.hilliard@gcsn.school.nz     

iPads, Netbooks and Tablets, Oh My!

Looking at purchasing iPads, Netbooks or Android tablets?  If so, please contact mike.hilliard@gcsn.school.nz.   We are coordinating a bulk buying arrangement and we have negotiated some very good deals based on purchasing in bulk.   So come on down and get in on the action!!