(ANS – Santiago) – Between 4 and 6 October at the “Dominican Retreat Centre” in Santiago, 18 representatives from 14 Salesian Institutes from Iquique to Punta Arenas, were together for a Salesian Information Day. The main aim was the strengthening of the Integrated System of School Information (SIIE).

Vicente Fritz, in charge of the Provincial Information Office, assisted by the Delegate for communications from the Educational Centre in Linares, first looked back at what had been done and agreed at the 2010 meeting, in order to go on from there focusing on two specific areas: information security and wifi connections and training in the SIIE, for the coming year.

During the first session  the Salesian Marcelo González, Provincial Delegate for Formal Education spoke about the SIIE – the free platform  set up for the schools of the Salesians and of the  Daughters of Mary Help of Christians – as it was first introduced and as it has since developed. In the SIIE the student is at the centre of the system so that all the information - academic, pastoral and everything relating to the life of the school (scholarships, library meals...) can be consulted and updated for the various levels of those involved (teachers, parents,  the school administrators...).

The second session was led by José Juan Yáñez and Jorge Orrego, from Linares, who presented some specific modules of SIIE, as they have been developed by the Resource Centre for Learning (CRA).

Discussions between those taking part as the SIIE was explained enabled them to understand the system and all it has to offer better and relate them to local needs.

At the end of the first day Fr Juan Bustamante, the Provincial Delegate for Social Communication gave the tradition Good Night. He spoke about the need to make better use of the  new technologies and to understand the new way young people see the world. He also invited those present to take their place in the life and mission of the educative community, with the creativity and the skills of educators and pastors.

The Delegate for Social Communication then spoke about the Salesian Social Communication System (SSCS), the document through which the Congregation organises its work in the field of communication, and gave each one a copy of the book by the Salesian Fr   Julian Fox  “Hacking your way to heaven.”

On the second day study of the SIIE continued with practical workshops for those  involved. Then in the afternoon the specialist Hector Mansilla gave a workshop on information security.

Published 07/10/2011