At the Beach

This week, Malcolm takes us to the beach.

Ommmmmmmmmmm . . .

This is one of those blog posts that's all about the picture.

Computer Lab, you are AWESOME!

The most-fun thing I've ever done at King Street Center? This. Right here. This picture. This moment. The moment when we got new computers, and a handful of teens said, "Can we help you set them up?" and I said, "Sure," and they were shocked that I said, "Sure," and then I said:"And you're going to open up the computers to put in extra memory, too."

And they did it:

But, that's not quite the beginning. The beginning involved hauling the new computers downstairs:

And then we recycled all the packaging:

And cleaned off the desks:
And laughed at this, because it's a ridiculous picture of a baby with a bag on its head:

Then the teens learned how to take the backs off a computer safely (I cannot begin to describe how worried they were that they would hurt the computers by doing this, and how proud they felt when they accomplished it):

And then began a frenzy of set-up. Please note the youth underneath the desk, plugging in cords while another youth sets up the materials above the desk. If you ever want to get computers set up quickly, have kids do it.

Some of the AWESOME, AWESOME questions I answered while were were doing set-up?

• Why isn't there a plug for the keyboard on the monitor?
• Why won't the monitor start up? You mean you need a power cord for that, too?
• Where does the mouse plug in?
• This kind just automatically has internet, right? You mean there's a phone cord attached to each of these? It's not a phone cord? What's a cat-5 cable?
• How do you attach the monitor to the big box? The big box is a CPU? What's that?
• We just got new screens, right? Why is the CPU important?
• Can I have the old computer?
• Will you come to my house and show all this to my parents?

I'm not kidding - these were awesome questions. Because, if they hadn't had the opportunity to put these computers together, they would have never realized they didn't know the answers, and they never would have thought to ask. AND, because they were the ones putting the computers together, they learned the answer as they put the plugs and cords in the right place, and they'll never forget it.

And the best part? We're also getting a laptop cart and an iPad cart!

People's United Bank, Tarrant Foundation, and Henderson Foundation: thank you, thank you, thank you!

The computers are coming!

We are SOOOOOOO thankful to People's United Community Foundation, The Tarrant Foundation, and the Henderson Foundation for their support of our technology program. Yesterday, the new desktops arrived, and the Afterschoolers got so excited that they all drew pictures of new computers.

Important fact: we talk about the difference between monitors and CPUs all the time, but not one kiddo drew the CPU. Sigh. Also, the mouse does not attach to the keyboard. Malcolm drew this one:

The googly-eyes on Ahmed's computer just make me so happy:

Jasper started the excellent trend of putting 'Love' on the monitor. His is a laptop, hence the lack of a mouse.And Zach decided that he just wanted to draw how the new technology made him feel:And finally, because we always offer the option to choose your own topic of illustration, Mowlid decided to completely ignore the new computers, but I liked his picture so much that I had to post it: