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