It was great to start our after-school coding classes this week, especially the two brand new groups on Wednesday. All four classes were keen and enthusiastic, getting struck right in to the work.

We will be continuing the learning journey with Python. For the new young coders, congratulations on writing your first Python code, print (‘kia ora world!)

There’s a tiny bit of homework, asking the following:

• How did Python get its name?
• When was Python first released?
• And find our another fact about Python

Take care and stay safe as Cyclone Gabrielle bears down on us. See you all next week.

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Code Champions February 2023

With the new term nearly upon us, we’re busy preparing for our after-school coding classes in 2023.

During Terms 1 and 2, we’ll be running groups on Wednesday and Thursday at Saint Kentigern, for students at the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools. The 15-week course will continue our journey with the Python programming language. (What is Python and why do we use it?)

For more information, please go to codechampions.nz/stkents_2023/

Or contact us on info@codechampions.nz

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Code Champions January 2023

We can hardly believe it but we’re now more than halfway through Term 4. There are just three more classes before we end the year.

Well done to everyone who completed their adventure games. You showed great application to come up with your ideas and put them into practice.

For the next two weeks, we’ll we focusing on the ‘turtle’ module and using it to draw and create images.

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Code Champions November 2022

That’s coding done for this term – there is no class this week.

We hope all our young coders are enjoying learning Python. Learning text-based coding is challenging, especially accuracy, which is probably the main thing we’re working on. But considering it’s only been eight classes, we have progressed really well.

We start back in the first week of Term 4, on Thursday 20 October. See you then!

Enjoy the holidays.

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Code Champions September 2022

We’re back! After a break (for you know what), our after-school classes are returning in Term 3.

There are a few details still to work through. We’ll let you know shortly.

Watch this space for more details.

Unfortunately, we have decided not to run coding classes in Term 1.

With the obvious uncertainties, we don’t feel confident in planning and organising classes only to have them cancelled or conditions changed. (We haven’t even been able to definitely secure all venues yet.)

So, sadly, we won’t see you this term. We hope our young coders will still find some time to practise programming and we look forward to seeing everyone again very soon.

The Code Champions team.

Every couple of years we upgrade our laptops, which means we’re left with having to deal with the old ones. Generally, the devices are still in good shape, so we try to find a new home for them.

Recently, we donated two sets of ‘retired’ laptops. One set went to Glen Innes Primary School; the other is on its way to Samoa with Pacific Assist (www.pacificassist.org), a charity providing learning resources to communities in the South Pacific.

Unfortunately, we won’t be holding coding classes in Term 4.

We feel we need some certainty and, even if our venues open up, there’s no guarantee they’ll allow after-school activities, so we’ve made the decision to call it quits for the term.

We will refund tuition fees not used from Term 3. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@codechampions.nz

If an opportunity opens up to run a holiday programme before Christmas, we will let you know.

Here’s to getting coding again in 2022!

The Code Champions Team.

The Level 4 lockdown means that coding classes in Term 3 have been cancelled until further notice.

We will update you when we have a clearer idea of what lies ahead.

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@codechampions.nz

Stay safe and well.

The Code Champions team.

It was good to see our young coders back in class last week. We’re starting some new content this term – adding a more graphical element to the work – and they took to it really well. Many started experimenting quickly and it’ll be interesting to see what they can achieve in the coming weeks.

To continue the work at home, the program being used in class is Python (with the IDLE code editor). These can be downloaded at https://www.python.org/

To practise with the Python Turtle module, they need to start their programs with: From turtle import *. If they need a quick reminder, here’s a screenshot of the program for a ‘square with colour and line thickness changes’.