Treasure Beach Foundation will be paying for the GoGSAT online computer courses for use in the small computer lab at Sandy Bank Primary School. There will be programs specially designed for students from grades 4, 5, and 6. Students will be able to use them with the permission of their teacher.

We have also worked out a special arrangement with the GoGSAT people to be able to offer these learning programs for home use. To be able to do so, a student must have their own computer and an Internet telephone connection.

Courses are for grades 4, 5, and 6 and will be able to be used through the end of June 2011. They are priced as follow:

• Bronze Level - FREE - affords students 24/7 free access to: unlimited pop quizzes, pre-tests, limited access to interactive notes, study guides in Mathematics, English, Social Studies and Science, downloadable PDF Communication Task forms, printable handouts and worksheets, timetables, a comprehensive FAQ, PDF training manual, integrated technical support, eBulletin board, real time eNotebook, real time grade book and the USAID/JCF Community Safety and Security Courseware. Even though this is free, you must give Miss Zane your name and e-mail address so she can register it.

• Silver Level - JA $2,000 - affords students 24/7 access to: unlimited pop quizzes (an unlimited item bank of interactive practice questions), study guides in Mathematics, English, Social Studies and Science, downloadable PDF Communication Task forms, printable handouts and worksheets, timetables, a comprehensive FAQ, PDF training manual, integrated technical support, an eBulletin board, a real time eNotebook, live online after school tutorials, a real time grade book, topic specific interactive study notes, covering the grades 4-6 curricula, free access to their mobile website (mobile.gogsat.com), integrated teacher monitored chatrooms, live tutorials and the USAID/JCF Community Safety and Security Courseware.

• Premium Level - $JA 6,000 - affords students 24/7 access to: unlimited pop quizzes, study guides in Mathematics, English, Social Studies and Science, downloadable PDF Communication Task forms, printable handouts and worksheets, timetables, a comprehensive FAQ, PDF training manual, integrated technical support, an eBulletin board, a real time eNotebook, live online after school tutorials, a real time grade book, topic specific interactive study notes covering the grades 4-6 curricula, topic specific tests, free access to their mobile website (mobile.gogsat.com), integrated teacher monitored chatrooms, live homework help, educational games, voice activated notes, iHelp (instant help) tutor, eMentoring, integrated online grading of composition and letters, a 24/7 online help desk, GoGSAT's Live Lab (September to March), static tests, parent area, parent branded chat room, parents' support, telephone consultations with GoGSAT professionals and free access to the USAID/JCF Community Safety and Security Courseware.

For any students wishing to buy either the Silver or Premium Level courses, Miss Zane must have the money in her hands no later than Tuesday, 26 October. And, she must have the student's e-mail address by Tuesday 26 October for anyone wanting the free course.

Awesome, Treasure Beach Foundation you are doing a great job. I hope the students who dont have a computer, some good samaritians will help them to use their computer.

This is a good thing. Happy for the students.

This is truly wonderful. Thank you to the good people at Treasure Beach Foundation.

I think if the students don't have a computer they can use one at Sandy Bank.

There might be a number of students who dont have a computer, if a student pay for the lessons, there might not be enough computer or enough time at school, but if your friend or neighbour has a computer and could allow the student to do their lessons,this would really help.

Parent, you are totally correct in suggesting the Sandy Bank students could definitely benefit from the use of a computer at a place near where they live. There are certainly too few computers at Sandy Bank, and it may not always be possible for a student to leave class.

If members of the community live near a student who is in grade 4, 5, or 6—and are willing to allow a student to use their computer, please find the student and tell them. Please understand that you will be offering the student a valuable opportunity.

Remember that the student can sign up for a free GoGSAT course, but he or she must give Miss Zane their e-mail address no later than Tuesday, 26 October. Please help the student sign up for a free e-mail account with a place such as Hotmail.

Spread the word!!!

How could I get more information on these courses? I am interested in what they include. I don't want to buy any.

I have had a very uplifting interchange with a woman from Canada who is buying a license for an additional Silver Level course to be able to assist a Sandy Bank student. This costs JA$2,000 which is about $25 U.S. If anyone else want to do so, they can also sponsor a GoGSAT course. Because we need the funds in very quickly, the way to sponsor a course is to go to our website (www.TreasureBeachFoundation.org) and contribute $25 via the Donate Now button. (It is a secure website; we never see or have access to any credit card numbers.)

More information on the courses--plus demo tests--can be obtained by visiting www.GoGSAT.com.

I am proud to say we are listed as a sponsor of the GoGSAT courses. For more information, see http://www.gogsat.com/Sponsors.htm

i want to get some pop quizzes please

Just go to the GoGSAT site, and you will see examples of questions they offer.

http://www.gogsat.com/Demo.htm

I was wondering how this worked out. Are the children still using this at school? Do you know how many signed up to use this at their home computers?

Yes, the children are still using the GoGSAT programs at Sandy Bank. Right now, it is primarily the grade six students who are utilizing the programs because the GSATs are coming up toward the end of March, and they are doing their best to be as prepared as possible.

I am also happy to report there were many subscriptions bought for home use. Four families purchased the Premium packages and 14 purchased the Silver packages. We do not have the number of Bronze packages in use because they were given at no cost.

Not meaning to sound negative and not meaning to give anything but high praise for what Treasure Beach Foundation is doing for the children in Treasure Beach. I know the GoGSAT program is well appreciated at Sandy Bank, but I would like to know what is being done for the Sandy Bank students not in Grades 4-6 who are not preparing for their GSATs or Literary/Numeracy Exams. Would someone be kind enough to tell me how many computers are available for the students at Sandy Bank Primary School. In addition to being online, do the students have access to CD-ROM learning programs. What about the count for the Basic School (where I would assume online access is far less important).

Excuse me, but who is supposed to pay for any additional computers to go into Sandy Bank? Wishing is wonderful. Money makes things happen. I am surprised they are able to afford ANY computers hooked up online.

I know I recalled something about a computer lab with 20 computers for Sandy Bank Primary. With the help of the search function I found what I was looking for. I hope what I found is not too long to be put here.
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By Treasure Beach Foundation on Friday, July 30, 2010 - 09:46 am: Edit Post
The only functioning computer lab at Sandy Bank is what used to be the Teachers' Lounge. It is a relatively small area, but the teachers willingly gave it up for this purpose. We donated the laptops and software for it, and Colin James performed the installation--including Internet connectivity.

The large computer lab attached to the back of Sandy Bank is no longer functional. (There is no good that can come out of affixing any blame for this having happened.) Plus, that lab never had any Internet connectivity.

It is our intention to make this a fully functioning computer lab with approximately 20 working computers. If possible, we will also arrange for Internet connectivity for this lab. One of our people (an IT professional) surveyed the facility this spring and understands the challenges involved. If we are able to get this up and running, we will also do our best to keep it in as good a condition as we can from afar. With Internet connectivity, our IT person can correct most software glitches right from his office in the U.S. He will also spend time in the lab when vacationing in Treasure Beach each year. There are always IT majors among the U VA students who are in TB each spring to assist at Sandy Bank; they will make it a point to concentrate their time in the computer lab. There are also many IT experts who vacation in TB; we will invite them to stop by Sandy Bank to donate a few hours of their time to any necessary instruction and upkeep. Finally, there are people like Stacie who have a lot of experience with such labs, and we will invite them to share their ideas with us.

With coordinated cooperation, I believe we can make the large computer lab something that will be of use to all the students at Sandy Bank--and the teachers will again be able to have their much-needed lounge back.



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By New computer lab on Friday, July 30, 2010 - 07:04 pm: Edit Post
Wow. Wow wow wow. A new computer lab.

This is great!!



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By Wishing for reality on Sunday, August 01, 2010 - 12:13 pm: Edit Post
This is the best news about education in TB I have read here in a long time. I realize Treasure Beach Foundation said it is their INTENTION to make this a fully functioning computer lab with approximately 20 working computers. I pray their intention becomes a REALITY. If it does it will help every student and teacher at Sandy Bank.

I have my fingers crossed for this to happen.



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By Curious on Monday, August 02, 2010 - 03:57 pm: Edit Post
IF this happens, when might that be?



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By Susan on Monday, August 02, 2010 - 05:15 pm: Edit Post
A new computer lab would be a wonderful thing. I am not meaning to say anything bad about the scholarship program but this is a program that would help ALL the children of Treasure Beach. If it happens I would not want it to take funds from the scholarship program because I know how useful that has been as a motivator to all the student, not only the ones who win.



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By Treasure Beach Foundation on Wednesday, August 04, 2010 - 05:31 pm: Edit Post
I have not meant to "disappear" or avoid answering the question of when a new computer lab might be in place. However, I am concerned about promising something we cannot deliver--or promising something by a certain date and then not meeting that deadline. While we only have a few programs in place in Treasure Beach, we have always done what we promised. We do not want to disappoint anyone who is counting on us.

Please remember we said it is our intention to install a fully-functioning computer lab. If we were based in Treasure Beach I could promise this, but we are doing most everything from afar.

Therefore, I am saying it could be a year from now before this happens. We believe it's better to under-promise and over-deliver.
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I know Treasure Beach Foundation is busy coordinating the University of Virginia students this week, but I would like to hear from them about if and when these new computers will be installed at Sandy Bank.

I do not want see potential wasted for the children of Treasure Beach. I see many bright children from poor families. A lot of these children face inequalities when compared to the children from more affluent families and communities where their homes and schools are equipped with much more up-to-date learning tools, online computers and so forth. I for one would be willing to donate some of my vacation time to necessary repair work or assisting the teachers and students. I believe other visitors would do the same thing. Am I wrong?

Miss Kennedy, could you give us a progress report please. Kind thanks to you and your organization for anything you are able to do for the school.

We are working with some other groups in an attempt to outfit the Computer Lab at Sandy Bank Primary School. It may be two weeks (or more) until I have something definite to report.