Coderdojo Gorey back in action

We took a long recess over the summer but our dojo is back in almost full swing. Well done to all 80 children who came today to Coderdojo Gorey to learn HTML or Scratch today. Thanks to all our volunteers mentors and parents.
HTML and Scratch groups are up and running. We have mixed all the age groups together our thinking is it will build collaboration and add to our ninja coders experience, bringing a mix of different ideas and skills in the room. Scratch has two classes, starters and every other level. Unfortunately we have not been able to offer Python at the moment but we hope to see Dave back mentoring again soon. We are looking for more python mentors, if you know someone send them our way.
We started a new four week course 'introduction to dojo' for those on our waiting list. Today we looked at Scratch. It was very busy but everyone seemed to enjoy it. Thanks to our young mentors who came from Scratch and helped out.
There is no dojo next week as its the bank holiday weekend.
But were are back on the 2nd of November with a special dojo and a BIG announcement.

New Location & meeting time

Saturday 23rd February sees the dojo in Gorey meeting at our new base in the Gorey Community School.
Our meeting time has changed to 1.30pm.

Opportunities for our kids & teens to code:
Scratch introduction 8-12 years              >> 20 tickets

Scratch 8+ years                                    >> 20 tickets

Introduction to HTML 8-12 years          >> 20 tickets

HTML & Python 12+ years                    >> 15 tickets

We are missing 4 of our regular mentors this weekend as they have other commitments. As you can see we are still managing to offer 75 tickets. Our mentor group is growing with a commitment from some parents to upskill in Scratch and become mentors - you're fab thanks! All our mentors are amazing to volunteer their time.
Our aim is to build a panel of local mentors so not everyone has to be there every week. Are you a potential mentor? Find out more here. Perhaps you know someone who can code & would be willing to mentor occasionally or every week?

We would also like to say a big thank you to the amazing group of volunteer Mums - Susie, +Karen Draper  and +MaryClaire Culliton who are running the behind the scenes and supporting ticketing, queries, FB page, etc.
Thanks to support in the last 2 weeks from Aidan, Susie and +Dave Bolger for phone calls, form filling & meetings to sort out school access and insurance.

Next steps:

• putting the children and teens learning at the centre of the club with dojo badges and achievements
• review 1.30 starting time
• co-ordinating mentors, garda vetting and building our mentor panel
• finding sponsors

So lets get Gorey coding!
+Roisin 

No meeting on the 16th + important information

Thank you to all the kids, teens and parents for being so patient while we sourced our larger venue.  

As I am sure you are aware there is no CoderDojo this weekend (16th February), thereafter it will be held at Gorey Community School.

Due to insurance restrictions from 23rd February we can only take children over 8 years of age.  If you have children younger than 8 and you want them to attend please contact Roisin & volunteer to provide that opportunity.

Our Calendar for the next few weeks is as follows:
February 23rd – CoderDojo
March 2nd – CoderDojo
March 9th – CoderDojo
March 16th – No CoderDojo
March 23rd – CoderDojo Fun Day
March 30th & April 6th – No CoderDojo (Easter)
April 13th – CoderDojo

Again, we are offering Scratch (an easily accessible introduction to programming language and concepts) and HTML (basic programming language used to develop websites) as well as Python (another programming language) broken down as follows:
Introduction to scratch 8+
Scratch 8+
Introduction to HTML 8-12
HTML 12+
Python 13+

As you are aware CoderDojo is run on a free / voluntary basis.  Please contact us if you know anyone / company who would like to sponsor us for items such as achievement badges / certificates / t-shirts for the kids.

Invitations for the next session (23rd February) will be issued at 6pm on Tuesday 19th February.
How do you get an invitation see FAQ's.

Even if your child attended previously you must accept the Eventbrite invitation by;

a) Pressing the green “attend event” button.
b) Choosing quantity of tickets and pressing register
c) Completing all required details and pressing register again

Once you see “order complete” you know you have been issued a ticket by email. This ticket can then be presented in the form of a printout or on the Eventbrite Smartphone app.

If you get an error processing your order, please wait 5 minutes and try again.

If you have not already done so, please complete and print out the attached Parental Consent / Registration form and bring it with you.

If all tickets have been allocated you will have the option to be waitlisted. The waitlist is the only way to qualify for any tickets that may become available.  Consequently, we would appreciate if you would please let us know as soon as possible by email if you have accept a ticket and cannot attend.

We hope you enjoy your mid-term.

Regards,
CoderDojo Gorey Team 

GREAT news! New location secured.

We are delighted that the Board of Management at Gorey Community School has approved our request for use of the schools facilities. Many thanks to Fintan Kemple one of the dads at the Dojo whom helped us with that. I wrote to the GSC board of management outlining CoderDojo Gorey's request for use of the school, they discussed it at their BOM meeting on 29th of January and Yes our ability to have more space and offer more tickets is solved!
However using the school is subject to two conditions:

• having insurance in place 
• staff being Garda vetted

One of the rules in the club is everything is free and open.

So our second piece of more amazing news...Aidan Clince another of the Dads has organised sponsorship for the insurance (yay for Dads at the dojo) . 

The sponsor a local business man, wants to remain anonymous. I want to publicly thank his philanthropic gesture as our children, teens and plenty of families in Gorey and North Wexford will benefit from his generosity. Lets play that one forward. Aidan and I will work on getting all the documentation required and having that in place as soon as possible.

So the second issue of Garda vetting technically we are all volunteers - mentors and background support for organisation, administration and communication. But to use the school facilities it is a criteria and having discussed it mentors and parents agree it is best practices and protects our child centered approach. That will be work in process lets see how to handle costs on that. 

So it looks like we can banish 'no ticket and waiting list' blues. 

What is being taught at the club?

Coderdojo Gorey currently offers 3 classes:

Introduction to HTML for ages 8 - 12 years

Introduction to HTML for 13+ years

Introduction to Scratch 8+

Laptops are required.

Links to the lessons here: 

Scratch.ie the first three lessons are available and the is a lot of information to get you going.

HTML will add shortly

CoderDojo Gorey up and coding

The club held its second meeting last Saturday and it went really well. It required a lot of administration and communication - the response has been overwhelming. A great group of volunteer parents has come together  to build the background organisation so the mentors can concentrate on their piece and the kids can just get on with coding!

We are releasing tickets today at 6pm for the 3rd session. 

If we don't have your email address and your children or teens are interested email us coderdojogorey [at] gmail [dot] com. Mention age groups. Right now your child, off spring or teen needs to bring a laptop to attend.

Lets get Gorey coding!

lets get Gorey coding!

CoderDojo Gorey First meeting 2013.
Photo credit Mark McGrath, Pixl9

Do you live in and around Gorey? do you have a kid, several of them or teenagers interested in learning how to code? make websites, games or apps? well you are in the right place, welcome!

Click HERE and fill out the 1 minute survey, which is a prerequisite for further information on our next meeting, 26th of January 2013.

Thanks!