Friday 4th July 2008

Warning: Rogue Callers

 

Purpose:   IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Audience: School Secretaries/Receptionists

 

A small number of schools have contacted the ICT Helpline to say they have received a telephone call from a company which is allegedly part of SIMS or ESPO. The schools in question were requested to allow a technician into their school to install some software on their office PC.

If your school is contacted in this way, please get as much information about the company as you can - especially a telephone contact number if possible.

 

We remind all schools to be wary of approaches such as this and always contact the ICT Helpline on 0845 0450973 if in doubt.

 

 

SIMS Year End Procedures

 

Purpose:   Guidance notes available

Audience: SIMS Administrators

 

The Year End guidance notes are available from the SIMS home page on the Portal. The Secondary notes are on the Secondary Planet and the Primary notes are on the Primary Planet. Please do not leave it until the last minute to start working on these procedures. Remember the next academic year must have been created, the promotion routine run and students allocated to their new classes before the first day of the next academic year.

For those running Dinner Money the year end notes are also on the Portal on the Dinner Money planet. The Dinner Money year end takes only a few minutes to run and we advise you carry this out before 31st August 2008. 

 

Starz News

Purpose: Updated Information  
Audience: Staff In Starz Schools

Cambridgeshire Young People's Film Festival 
The films are in and judging has taken place! Well done to all 80 individuals, groups and classes who submitted a film or animation to the Cambridgeshire Young People's Film Awards. The nominations for each category have been announced and the night of the awards is upon us. Visit the Film Starz website and view the films for yourselves. Following the 'Oscar' evening, on the 4th July, the results will be made available on the Starz website, did your favourite win? (Look out for coverage of this event on Look East News - Friday evening). If you have enjoyed taking part, or would like to be involved next year, then please do look out for details over the next school year as this is planned to be an annual event.

The Cambridgeshire Children's Picture Book Award 2008 
And the winner is... Max and the Doglins by Amanda Montgomery-Higham. 

"Read it Again!" is an award for a first time picture book where the story and pictures are the work of one person. The project was organised by Richard Young and Anne Leeming from the Schools Library Service. The winner was chosen by the children of Cambridgeshire. Starz schools have also been able to find out about last year's winner, Tim Hopgood and his book 'Our Big Blue Sofa' via the Starz website. Filming of the award ceremony, by Cambridgeshire children, took place and will be made available on the Starz website for viewing before the start of next year's activity. 

Starz Detectives - Thurs 17 July 9.30 am - 11.00am - free to Starz subscribing schools 
Starz Detectives, together with E-ngage, offers a unique way for pupils in years 4, 5 and 6, and community professionals to work together. Pupils, under supervision, use ICT to work with experts from outside agencies as a scenario unfolds in real time. This month's focus is on 'Summer Safety' and in particular the kind of activity that takes place around water - jumping off bridges, swimming in weed infested rivers. To find out more, or to register to take part, please email admin@starz.org.uk  
 
Starz Projects 2008-09 
Plans are well under way for the next school year in the Starz office! Details of projects planned can be viewed by accessing 'Teacher's Stuff' on the Starz website and then clicking on the 'Projects' button. A project diary overview has been provided for all Starz schools to help them incorporate Starz events and activities over the forthcoming year into their own planning material. Any further information concerning these forthcoming activities can be obtained by emailing projects@starz.org.uk 

 
Cambridgeshire Online Training Search 

Cambridgeshire Online Training Search (COTS) is a database of training opportunities provided by the Local Authority.  It can be accessed from any computer connected to the Internet without the need for a password; its powerful search engine will help you to find suitable courses.  Eventually, all providers will be using this database, please check the Providers list for the services currently represented.  You will already find the complete listing of courses offered by CAS, CREDS, SLS, Education ICT Service, ISSIS, Cambridgeshire Youth Work and Connexions.  Go to: COTS to access this service now.

 

ICT Service Blog and Helpline Blog

 

The information in this briefing is also available through our blog. This means that you do not have to wait for the fortnightly distribution; news items go online immediately. Other relevant information about ICT is posted there too.  It is also possible to use the blog to comment on items and to give us feedback.

 

There is a link to the blog from our website or you can visit it directly at http://educationictservice.blogspot.com/  If you use a newsreader such as Google Reader, you can subscribe to the blog using the link in the left-hand column; your news reader will automatically highlight new blog items for you. If you would like to learn how to do this, contact the Helpline.

 

For up to the minute Helpline information, please visit the ICT Service Helplines Blog by searching for Resource id: 3750 from the Education Portal or by using this link: ICT Service Helplines Blog. You can subscribe to this blog in exactly the same way. 

 

More ICT News on the Portal...

 

Do you regularly check the ICT News page on the Portal? It features all the latest ICT-related news of importance to Cambridgeshire's schools.

To take a look, simply search for resource ID: 584 from the Portal front page, or click on 'News' on the ICT Service home page (www.ict.ccceducation.net).