MOUSE's fall program calendar is full of trainings, unplugged events, site visits and the brand new Coordinator-Con. Get out your calendars and sign up now! Also, remember to finalize your MOUSE Squad membership early in the year, go here for more info: www.mousesquad.org/famis

Wed, Sept. 30, 9:30-1:30pm: MOUSE Squad Unplugged at SonyWonder Technology Lab

We will be kicking off the 2009-2010 MOUSE Squad Unplugged Events series with a trip to midtown's SonyWonder Technology Lab [http://www.sonywondertechlab.com]. Bring your whole squad to explore the "exciting new exhibits in a dynamic, state-of the art facility that brings technology and creativity together to make learning experiential, entertaining and fun."

At MOUSE Squad Unplugged events, MOUSE partners with local organizations to connect your Squads' skills and enthusiasm to topics beyond the help desk. MOUSE will provide lunch and metrocards for all students. Pre-registration is required - click here to sign up: /node/13620

Thurs, Oct. 15, 12-3:15pm: MOUSE Squad Coordinator-Con

Start your year off right at the MOUSE Squad Coordinator-Con, hosted by Time Inc in Rockefeller Center! In response to your feedback through the years, MOUSE is shaking things up for the 2009-2010 school year! Instead of meeting once as a whole network in the spring - when the school year is almost over - we will be offering more opportunities for MOUSE Squad Coordinators to come together throughout the year. Here's how it's changed: We start in the fall with Coordinator-Con, professional development, networking and support on new MOUSE Squad tools and program offerings, and to collaborate in a design charrette* around promising practices in MOUSE Squad implementation.

The fall Coordinator-Con will be followed with a series of Unplugged Workshops throughout the year on advanced topics in education and technology, and will end with a year-end celebration of all the hard work Squad Members and Coordinators have demonstrated throughout the year.

October's Coordinator-Con is our one chance throughout the year to meet with all educators at once to learn from each other and to get everyone up-to-date on the MOUSE Squad program - we recommend that all MOUSE Squad Coordinators attend. A light lunch will be served at 11:30, and there will be a raffle at 3:15pm!

Register NOW: www.mousesquad.org/coordinator-con.

• A "charrette" is an intensive collaborative design session involving small groups of stakeholders and intended to promote joint ownership of solutions.

Sat, Nov. 7, 9am - 4pm: MOUSE Squad Team Training

Bring your whole squad to meet and network with other squads across the city and get trained during a full-day of workshops in Networking, Hardware, Leadership and Squad Operations. Students and Coordinators will participate in hands-on team- and skills-building activities and games led by our Squad of Training Specialists with years of experience in computer science, new media, leadership training and, of course, Youth Development.

Together, whole Squads don't just learn how systems work, they learn how people work together effectively to overcome challenges, see projects through to completion, and use one another to innovate with creative solutions that capitalize on the passion and knowledge of the group.

Pre-Registration required - we will announce registration on the Wire soon!

Fall School Support Visits Calendar

Meet Juan Garzon, aka "Mister G": your very own MOUSE Squad Field Support Representative.

He will be dropping by every MOUSE Squad school in NYC this year, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, one borough at a time. During the visit, he's ready to support your squad: help you get set up, train your squad on using the website or anything else you need!

Schedule Your Site Visit Now!

1) Find your school's site visit month below:

• October: All Brooklyn squads
• November:Bronx squads
• December: Manhattan, Staten Island squads
• January: Queens squads

2) Choose a day (Monday, Tuesday or Friday) and a Time slot: Morning, Lunch of Afternoon. (See the Site Visit Calendar here).

3) Email or call Juan at [email protected] or 917-693-4185 with your preferred date and time. If you wish to be visited before or after your scheduled month, just let him know!

On-Site Training

Juan is also available to schedule a limited number of on-site trainings on MOUSE Squad Certification modules for sites that can not attend the MOUSE Squad Team Training. On Site training may be a great option for Squads without in-house technical skills and/or those have conflicts attending or reaching central trainings. If you would like to host training at your school or location, complete an On-Site Training Request Form and we will contact you within 24 hours.