Seasons greetings

The 2010 academic year ends today as schools close for the long summer break.

The Zisukhanyo Schools Project Team wishes everyone a relaxing, restful

and rejuvenating festive season.

This blog will also be taking a break until early in the New Year.

Concentration

One of the Strategic Objectives of this Project is to improve the numeracy and literacy results in the ZSP schools.

This is a Grade 5 class at Thomas Wildshutt Senior School doing a Numeracy Speed Test (see Speed Test post). It is the concentration of this leaner that is noteworthy, his total focus on getting the best possible score (although he is not alone in his efforts as you can see from the surrounding learners).

One of the aims of ZSP is to allow technology to be an effective tool for educators in their mathematics teaching, the role of the ZSP Curriculum Team is to provide the training and support to allow this to happen.

Donor visits to the ZSP schools

During November the ZSP family of schools received visits from Danny Gallagher, Chairman of Protea Education Development Project and Mark Dobbyn, Human Dignity Foundation.

The schools had the opportunity to showcase how the support of the Zisukhanyo Schools Project has impacted upon their staff and learners.

Five years later....

The computer centre at Intshayelelo Primary School was officially opened in September 2005. This was over five years ago...what is the feedback from the school today?

" It is not a secret that our school has improved in all learning areas in general and

 literacy in particular. The use of the computer room has broadened the knowledge

 of both educators and learners." Mr VS Gantsho, Principal.

" Using the computer room in teaching learners helps me a lot... the learners become more interested to learn than when listening to the educator talking in the classroom" Mngxekeza T.

"It (computer room) provided us with a variety of activities that we were unable to do in class." Mbaba M

Speed tests

The one of the main curriculum foci for the ZSP labs is numeracy.  Speed  tests are a key strategy that we are using to assist educators with improving the numeracy of their learners. The speed tests are carried out at the start and end of a lesson in the ZSP lab.

(Thanks to William for the pictures)

Feedback from the educators:
"After two weeks of computer classes, I have to say that the entire school day has changed completely. Kids are excited and getting competitive to achieve higher results in the 191 speed tests." Majdi Ryklief, Thomas Wildschutt Senior.
(For more pictures see the Thomas Wildschutt Senior website)

Lessons starting

On Monday the learners at Buck Road, Jamaica Way, Prince George, Sonwabo, Sullivan, St Mary's and Thomas Wildschutt Senior Primary Schools started lessons in the brand new ZSP computer centres! (The learners at Thomas Wildschutt Junior primary school have been using their technology since the start of this term)
It was a time of great excitement for learners and educators alike, as all experienced learning in a new environment....

KE NAKO: The hardware arrives..

Ke nako, or it is time

(to steal a phrase from the 2010 Soccer World Cup) .

This is the moment the Stage II schools have been eagerly counting down to!!

See the story unfold in the pictures below.

Beginner Training for Educators

Throughout the September school holidays, the ZSP facilitators and Lab Assistants have been running training for educators from the Stage II schools. The purpose of this training was to provide educators, who are not as confident with technology, with a gentle introduction to the new computers. The educators were given a specially designed program with individual attention from the ZSP staff. The training was held at Thomas Wildschutt Junior school and neighbouring schools who kindly opened their facilities for the training. 

24th September: Heritage Day

Today is a public holiday in South Africa, Heritage Day. Here is how the Government website defines today:

"The day is one of our newly created public holidays and its significance rests in recognising aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and difficult to pin down: creative expression, our historical inheritance, language, the food we eat as well as the land in which we live."

The ZSP Team were delighted to be invited to Thomas Wildchutt Junior School's Heritage Day and Thanksgiving Service.

Here are the learners celebrating their heritage.

Happy Heritage Day to all!

Teaching for the future

Last week the ZSP Team and the new Lab Assistants had the pleasure of introducing the newly installed technology to the staff of Thomas Wildschutt Junior. The staff were given an introduction into how they can use the interactive electronic whiteboards that have arrived at the school.

The aim of the first session was to allow the staff to play with and so explore the potential of their new technology.

The feedback from the educators was very positive, there was a real sense of excitement in the sessions.

Meet the ZSP Lab Assistants and Community ICT technicians

A very important part of the ZSP is the additional staff that it provides to the schools to ensure that the educators are supported with their use of the technology.

A full time Lab Assistant is provided to every ZSP school. Apart from supporting the school, the aim is to train and develop the Lab Assistant during the life of the Project. We have found that the contribution of the Lab Assistant is crucial to the use and integration of the technology

A Community ICT Technician is provided for a cluster of schools.Young matriculants are selected to follow a learnership program.




Click here to see the album with details of names & schools

Lab Assistant training

AUP - recipe for success!

For the past month the second phase of ZSP schools have been working hard on their AUP.

What is an AUP? Acceptable User Policy. This is the document that regulates how the computer centre is organised, maintained, kept safe, how educators use the new facilities, and how the different responsibilities for the upkeep of the facilities are allocated to the ICT Committee.

This may not sound too important, but these policies are crucial in ensuring that the computer centre is used optimally, for delivering numeracy and literacy lessons and in supporting educators with their admin tasks.

As part of this process, it is important that the schools involved formulate policies that will help them to keep their computer centre functioning to the best of its potential and also minimise any risks e.g  how to stop viruses being spread via USB sticks.

The ZSP Team provided each school with a list of topics would need to be addressed by the AUP, we were also available to advise schools during their discussions.  In some schools the whole staff have sat down together to decide on their AUP.

By the time the technology arrives at the schools, this recipe for success will be in place.

Report from Thomas Wildschutt Primary learners

To see the full size report click on the link:
Thomas Wildschutt learners' report

This is an excellent record by the learners of the work that has been happening at their school.
As you can see they are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the technology.

Thanks to Justin O Ryan, Grant Solomons, Liam Ram, Takatso Hlasa and Mr Ryklief.

What do the learners think? Quotes from St Mary's Primary

Mitchell's Plain Cluster: Progress to date

The Control Board meeting was held on Friday July 30th. The Control Board meeting is a chance for all the stakeholders  to report how they are progressing towards the strategic objectives of the Project.

It was a very productive and encouraging meeting where the full scope of the Project was clearly demonstrated. To document all the feedback would take too long, but some key points that were shared included:

• 
  
  how many extra learners had received much needed food at school
• 
  
  how a holiday feeding scheme had been put in place
• 
  
  the details of peer educator HIV training
• 
  
  the screening and treatment of learners with eyesight difficulties in a pilot project at one school
• 
  
  the development of lab assistants and a community ICT technician
• 
  
  the training and development of educators who had little or no exposure to computers prior to ZSP
• 
  
  the focus on using computers as an important tool in raising the standards of numeracy and literacy in the Mitchell's Plain cluster schools

Part of the meeting was an honest assessment of the strategies needed in the next six months to allow further progress to occur.

An example of what is happening in the schools. Below is a video (please excuse the quality as it was shot using a cell phone) of  grade 1 learners (6-7 years) totally engrossed in their maths...one of the ZSP successes!

Seeing is believing

Part of the scope of the ZSP includes the funding of the Jonga Trust in a pilot eye screening project. The funding has also allowed the Trust to provide glasses to the learners identified with eye sight deficiencies during the school screening mentioned in an earlier post ( Jonga Trust blog post). More serious cases were referred to the Red Cross Children's Hospital, under the funding of the Health Department.

Today the learners were proudly wearing their new spectacles during the lesson in the ZSP computer centre.

A new term

Schools opened again for the new term on Tuesday after a longer than normal 'football induced' winter break.

The Team have been very busy since then visiting all of the schools in the ZSP family:
Intshayelelo
Stage I: Eastville, Liesbeeck, Mitchell Heights
Stage II: Buck Road, Jamaica Way, Prince George, Sonwabo, St Mary's, Sullivan, Thomas Wildschutt and Thomas Wildschutt Junior.

Intshayelelo and Stage I schools' focus is using their technology to help educators improve learners' numeracy and literacy levels. This is done by educators using their time in the ZSP computer lab to  explore and consolidate the concepts that are being taught that week in the classroom.

The Stage II schools are preparing both the infrastructure and the strategies that will allow them to fully utilise the technology that will arrive in the Autumn. Over the next month the ICT Committees at each of the schools will be formulating  important guidelines that will allow the technology to be well managed and sustainable.

The Stage II Champions met yesterday. Two of the highlights were the encouraging stories of excited learners seeing the changes made to their schools over the break and educators constantly asking 'when will our training start?'

Enjoying the GEES...but the work goes on

The whole country is enjoying the "GEES" ( Afrikaans for 'spirit' ) generated by the Football World Cup. 300 000 people were in Cape Town for the Germany v Argentina game on Saturday.

In the midst of the football frenzy that is engulfing Cape Town, work is progressing both on the infrastructure at the schools and in the planning of the training for educators.

Service providers have been industriously fitting worksurfaces, adding security features, painting walls, finishing floor surfaces, putting in electrical and data cabling. When educators and learners arrive back at school on Tuesday they will be surprised at the transformation.

The ZSP Team have been planning the training schedule for the Stage II schools. The training has two parts; the e-literacy program and the educational software program. During the school holidays the ZSP Team have been analysing the results of the e-literacy evaluation that every Stage II school staff member completed. Training has been devised to account for the different levels of IT experience and confidence found at each school.

Well done South Africa on being an incredible host nation for the World Cup!!

Green for go

Just before the end of term, each of the eight Stage II schools had a meeting where their staff were asked to explore their hopes and fears for the ZSP. The task was based around a traffic light ( or 'robot' as it is known here in South Africa).

Traffic light analysis activity

The amber light required the staff to summarise the expected impact of ZSP at their school. Here is a selection of some of the responses.

Winter break.

The schools break up tomorrow for a longer than usual winter break. Schools have been given extra time off due to the Soccer World Cup. We wish all the staff and learners a good break and hopefully Bafana Bafana (the South African National football team) will put on a good show!

Work on the infrastructure will carry on during the school break. You will be able to follow the progress on blog; just click on the Stage II school's pages and on the ZSPs photo gallery.
ZSP photo gallery ( this link is also on the side bar of the blog)

The ZSP Team will be reviewing the staff e-literacy evaluation forms carried out by all staff at the Stage II schools. This review will allow the Team to design an e-literacy training program for each staff member.

Metamorphosis

There is nothing more exciting than to watch a new project 'grow' before your eyes. This is very much the case with the progress of the Computer Centres in the eight ZSP Stage II schools.

Hopefully you have been checking both the summary slideshow "Infrastructure progress" on the Blog's main page and the more detailed slideshow on each of the school's individual pages.

"I've always been a fanatic to a smell of a brand new car, but recently that is overwhelmed by the smell of an evolving computer lab. " Sonwabo Primary

"It seems they (the staff) get more excited as the lab progresses on a daily basis. The lab is really taking shape and already looks impressive." Prince George Primary

Jonga Trust

At one of the ZSP Stage I schools, Mitchell Heights, we are running a pilot program with the Jonga Trust to screen the eyesight of all of the learners at the school.

The Jonga Trust is a non-profit NGO that screens and manages eye health for disadvantaged people in South Africa. Two of its aims are to provide eye health care services to all and the provision of cost effective visual correction.    

Jonga trust website

At Mitchell Heights, the Community Eye Care workers screened 951 learners. The aim was to identify learners who had visual problems. The learners who were found to have problems were then referred for further testing. The Jonga Optometrist visited the school over several days to perform refraction testing. (see the picture above).

Staff e-literacy survey

One of the strategic objectives of ZSP Stage II is to enable teachers to reach a competent level of computer literacy.

In order to provide teachers with a personalised program to develop their e-literacy..we need to know what they know! The team has devised an e-literacy survey to allow all teachers from the novice to the Einstein to show their current skills and confidence when using ICT.

Staff-E-literacy-Evaluation  click here to see the survey.

The ZSP Champion in each school is ensuring that we get an evaluation from all of the staff (teaching and non-teaching) at their school. The team will analyse the responses and plan the training accordingly. The team want all staff to be stimulated and to develop..not be bored or feel the training is over their head.

Meet the Champions

As mentioned in an earlier post, each of the Stage II schools has selected a ZSP Champion. The Champion is the staff member who will drive the ZSP at their school; also they will liaise with both the SMT of the school and the ICT Committee.

We had our first ZSP Champions' meeting last Wednesday. The ZSP Team discussed how the implementation would occur at each school and the importance of communication between the Champion and the ZSP Team , and between the Champion and the staff.

The first tasks the Champions have to tackle are an e-literacy survey of all the staff at their schools, this will help the Team to plan the staff e-literacy training; additionally the Champions will look at the hope and fears of their staff about the ZSP at the school. The Team are eagerly awaiting the results!

Our Champions are:

Buck Road : Farzanna Ebrahim

Jamaica Way: Mathilda Marsh

Prince George: Fernal Van Aswegen

Sonwabo: Mthuthu Ngqingqo

St Mary's: Ingrid Morris

Sullivan: Peter Mackier

Thomas Wildschutt Senior: Madji Ryklief

Thomas Wildschutt Junior: Deborah Africa

Sonwabo Primary

A slideshow showing the start of work at Sonwabo Primary.

 

Break through

The start of the computer centre at Jamaica Way Primary!

As mentioned in last week's blog, the hard work of changing existing structures into high tech computer centres is in progress at each of the eight ZSP stage II schools. As you can see from the picture above, there is some major restructuring work needed at some of the schools.

The ZSP team is working hard ensuring the transitions are as smooth as possible and that there is no impact on teaching and learning at the schools.

The transformation begins!

Now that the launch has occurred ZSP Stage II is moving forward at quite a pace.

The most exciting part for the schools and the ZSP team is seeing the transformation of rooms into fully fitted computer centres or electronic whiteboard classrooms. We will be keeping a pictorial log of the changes so that you can share in the progress at each school.

Each Stage II school has a individual page on this blog. Click on the page to see a slideshow of how the work is progressing, in addition to details about the school and its vision statement for the Zisukhanyo Schools Project.

The other work being undertaken is not so visible..but just as vital. The ZSP team is working with the ZSP champions and ICT Committees at each of the Stage II schools.

Ready, steady...GO!

The Zisukhanyo Schools Project Stage II schools launch happened on Friday 23rd April at the Lord Charles Hotel.

Present were the Principals and Champions of the eight Stage II schools; officials from Metro South Education District (MSED) and WCED Khanya Project; representatives from each of the ZSP partners and suppliers; the Protea Education Development Project (PEDP) chairman and team.

Support for the ZSP was expressed in speeches by Eugene Daniels, MSED Director and Clinton Walker, Khanya. Danny Gallagher and Mark Swartz explained the scope, vision and details of this three year project. Jo Besford explained how the ZSP team will support the schools.

One of the highlights of the launch was the speeches by each of the Principals detailing their vision for the ZSP at their schools.

Thank to to all who attended and committed their support to this project.

'Preparing to fly' Training Workshop

On Saturday 17th April, the ZSP stage II schools joined together for a training workshop titled 'Preparing to fly' run by the ZSP team. Each school was represented by their Principal, ICT Champion and a member of the ICT Committee. We were excellently hosted by Capricorn Primary School.

During the morning we looked at how roles within school would change as a result of schools joining the ZSP, we considered factors that would influence the success of ZSP at the schools and the schools shared their hopes and fears about the ZSP. Each group was given an opportunity to positively summarise their school, you will be able to see their contributions on their individual pages over the next few days. 

Danny meets ZSP stage II schools

Danny Gallagher, the chairman of Protea Education Development Project is in South Africa visiting ZSP stage II schools prior to the stage II launch this Friday.

As a project team, we were so proud to take Danny to the schools. At each school Danny spoke with the Principal and Project champion, he then visited the rooms which will become the ZSP computer centre.

The visits were very successful; in that it allowed each school to showcase their enthusiasm and commitment for the ZSP and allowed Danny to gain an understanding of  each school.

Peninsula School Feeding Association

One of the partners of the ZSP project is the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA). For more than 50 years, PSFA has been providing meals to hungry children in primary, secondary and special-needs schools and other educational institutions.

PSFA has been a partner in the ZSP Stage I schools; Mitchell Heights, Liesbeeck and Eastville. Protea Eductaion Development Project will continue to partner with PSFA in supporting for these three schools untill mid 2011.

The first term 2010 PSFA newsletter features the ZSP. You can click on the link below to read it.

PSFA newsletter

Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick

This week we were pleased to host a visit by Diarmuid & Agnes O Driscoll. Diarmuid is Director of External Relations at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick.

Diarmuid's Profile

Diarmuid had attended a lecture by Danny Gallagher, chairman of the Protea Education Development Project, where the Zisukhanyo Schools Project (ZSP) had been discussed. We were pleased that on his visit to Cape Town, he decided to see the project in action for himself.

Diarmuid and Agnes had a chance to visit the area where three of the new ZSP schools are located. It was important for them to see the environment where this project is targeted. They then visited Mitchell Heights Primary school and the ZSP computer lab. Thanks must go to the school's Principal, Ms G Thebus, who opened the school especially for them during the Easter holidays.

Swans

A swan looks effortless gliding across a lake...but below the surface its legs are paddling furiously.

The Zisukhanyo Schools Project is a well organised project but to maintain its high standard furious paddling beneath the surface is needed.

Although the schools are closed for two weeks, we have been focussing on preparing the plans, data and paperwork for the 23rd April Project launch. The 8 ZSP schools were excellent in responding to detailed requests for data before they closed.

This week has also has been a time for meetings with stakeholders; reviewing timelines and deliverables. They are all important steps in ensuring this Project moves forward.

Project Champion

This week the schools have been asked to nominate their Project Champion. The Champion is a person with enthusiasm and drive; someone who will lead the Zisukhanyo Schools Project at their school. We will introduce these people to you in the coming weeks.

Talking to the Principals, it has been very clear that the school communities are greatly looking forward to participating fully in the ZSP. Several School Governing Bodies (SGB) have met since the school presentations.

The other main focus of this week was the putting together of indivualised project plans.  Each school will have this detailed plan focusing on how the ZSP will be implemented at their school.

Schools break up today for the Easter Holidays. We wish everyone a good break!

Meeting the school communities - part 2

This week we met the other four school communities that are part of the Zisukhanyo Schools Project Stage II. They are:

• Jamaica Way Primary
• Sulliavan Primary
• Sonwabo Primary
• Buck Road Primary

The staff in all the schools that were visited were very eager to play their part in making the ZSP a success at their school. 

Happy St Patrick's Day

On March 17th St Patrick's Day, the Principal, all the educators, non teaching staff and some of the School Governing Body of Sonwabo Primary in Gugulethu gathered together to hear about the Zisukhanyo Schools Project (ZSP). We discussed how it will impact on their school community and what their responsibilities would be to ensure the success of the project.

The staff were very encouraged by the possibilities that this project could bring to their school; they pledged to offer their full support towards the ZSP.

Intshayelelo Primary

Intshayelelo Primary was the inspiration for the ZSP project. Their computer centre opened in September 2005. It was from this first school that the ZSP project was born.

It is good to see that the educators and learners are still benefiting from their technology.

The educators are keen to explore new ways to use their interactive whiteboard. The latest software has just been loaded and the school is planning to place a Grade 4 teacher in the whiteboard room on a full time basis. She will be focussing on delivering Literacy and Life Skills using this exciting technology.

Meeting the school communities - part 1

We have had an exciting week meeting the school communities of some of the ZSP stage II schools. Mark & Jo have been workshopping the aims of the ZSP and the responsibilities of the partner schools; discussing issues and answering questions from all involved at the school. Principals, educators, parents, non teaching staff and SGB members have all been involved in the sessions.

The schools who were involved were:

• Thomas Wildschutt Primary
• Thomas Wildschutt Junior Primary
• Prince George Primary
• St Mary's Primary

It is so important to involve the whole school community from the beginning of ZSP stage II and it was very encouraging to see the enthusiasm and commitment of each of the schools involved. Much credit goes to the staff of Thomas Wildschutt Primary who were prepared to spend an hour after school sitting in temperatures of 43deg and more and still play a full role in the session!

First meeting with new Zisukhanyo schools

On Wednesday 18th February there was the first meeting with the 8 schools joining the
Zisukhanyo Schools Project (ZSP) in 2010. They are:

• Buck Road Primary School
• Jamaica Way Primary School
• Prince George Primary School
• St Mary's RC Primary School
• Sonwabo Primary School
• Sullivan Primary School
• Thomas Wildschutt Junior Primary School
• Thomas Wildschutt Primary School

It was an excellent time to talk with representatives from Metropole South Education District (MSED), Principals, SGB and school representatives.

Everyone is very excited by the opportunities and aware of their responsibilities of being a part of ZSP.

Welcome!

Welcome to the new blog of the Protea Education Development Project.

Here we will be blogging about the Zisukhanyo Schools Project: what's happening, good news, events and how you can support us in our aim to
" assist in bridging the "Digital Divide" for teachers and pupils in primary schools in very impoverished areas of greater Cape Town, through the provision of basic computing facilities in the schools "