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Tēnā koutou katoa te whanau,
This is a brief newsletter as we head into the last two weeks of term two. I will give you a couple of contacts to keep close - in case you need help with a challenging situation; update you on the NZPF conference; invite you to sign a petition calling for a bipartisan coalition for education; and share a message for overcoming winter blues.
When things don't go as planned, we are here to support you. NZPF offers two levels of assistance. First, there's our Helpline. When you contact the Helpline, an experienced NZPF colleague will discuss your problem with you. They will help you decide how to proceed. This is a confidential service. The Helpline number is 0800 798 798.
Secondly, we have PASL (Principals Advice and [legal] Support), which offers specialized legal support to help you navigate disputes. PASL also provides a free hotline for principal subscribers. Joining PASL provides peace of mind and protects you in your job.
Click here to answer why you need the NZPF Legal Support Scheme >
Click here for the Application Form >
NZPF Annual conference
Registrations for our Queenstown conference have closed. We apologize to all principals who did not make the registration cut - Mo taku he. The Queenstown venue has limited capacity and with the number of principals wanting to participate in conference, we will be reviewing the Queenstown option for the future. If you have requested a place on the waitlist, hold off booking flights or accommodation until a space becomes available. We appreciate your patience and cooperation.
Signing the Petition
You have all received a copy of the NZPF 2023 Manifesto. It includes a political statement calling for education policy decisions to be made through a cross-party coalition which would include all political parties, practitioners, educational researchers, and academics.
Callan Goodall, Principal of St Patrick's Invercargill, and Tom Wallis, Principal of St Patrick's Bryndwr Christchurch, also agree with the bipartisan approach. They have taken a further step and launched a petition "Change.org campaign." They invite you to support their petition by signing it and passing it on to your teachers, family, and friends.
Link for petition - https://chng.it/bg4nHTjs
Winter Blues
Let's talk about the winter blues. When the rain falls down and the temperatures drop down, we also feel down. To combat this, find comfort indoors and engage in activities that bring you joy. Surround yourself with positivity and share laughter with your staff and students. Remember, brighter days are just around the corner. Together, let's create a laughter-filled haven in our schools and swot away those blues! But most importantly, prioritize your self-care, so you can finish the term on a strong note.
Ngā Pou E Whā
To listen, to learn, to act.
Pou Tahi - Te Kaiarahitanga / Leadership
Tracy Fraser, Stephanie Thompson, Jason Miles, Leanne Otene
Principal Leadership Facilitators
The establishment of the Leadership Advisory Programme was a direct response to the Korero Mātauranga process and the advocacy efforts of the New Zealand Principals' Federation (NZPF).
Being a principal is a challenging and often solitary role. Over the years, we have witnessed the introduction and discontinuation of various development and support programmes for aspiring, beginning, and experienced principals. More recently, only Beginning Principals have received support through Evaluation Associates, and Te Akatea provides support for Beginning Principals in Māori medium settings.
That is why we are excited about the Leadership Advisory Programme for all schools, led by Chief Advisor Tim White. It presently consists of 16 regional advisors who are either current or former principals. These advisors provide advice, act as critical friends, support ongoing initiatives, contribute to Kāhui ako or cluster projects, and conduct workshops and presentations.
Additionally, there are five Leadership Advisors specifically designated for Māori Medium and Kaupapa Māori settings. These positions are managed by the two Māori Medium Peak Bodies.
What sets this service apart is that it is led by principals for principals, and the Ministry has adopted an iterative development model. They aim to design the programme based on the needs of principals. The service is provided at your invitation - please contact your Regional Leadership Advisor through your local Regional Te Mahau office if you would like the support of a Leadership Advisor.
Expressions of Interest for the 2024 cohort of Leadership Advisors will open soon (late June). If you would like more information, please contact your regional advisor or Tim. (tim.white@education.govt.nz).
Pou Rua - Te Marautanga / Curriculum
Heidi Hayward, Karen Brisco, Jen Rodgers and Blair Dravitski
Update of work (June):
We have requested a meeting with the MOE Curriculum Development team, during the July break, to further discuss the professional development roll out to principals on Te Mātaiaho.
One action to promote:
Together with your Boards of Trustees, we encourage you to set your Teacher Only Day (TOD) for November 13-24, so that you can inform your communities as soon as possible.
Pou Toru - Students / Ākonga / Inclusive Education
Shane Buckner, John Bangma, Phil Palfrey and Gavin Beere
Please complete this VERY brief survey below
In our last report, we asked you to contribute your voice through a brief survey. We wanted to know what support you had, when excluding a student.
To advocate for improvements, we need data. If your Board has recently excluded a student, please help us by completing the brief survey below.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/73HXHGD
Highest Needs Change Programme
The Minister of Education was expecting a business case to consider by June 2023. This has been delayed to allow the voice of disabled peoples to be included.
For further information regarding what the Highest Needs Change Programme is, please refer to the Ministry website at this link.
Pou Wha - Te Tikanga Ture/ Policy/ Systems
Hayley Read, Julie Hepburn, Cherie Taylor-Patel
Stand Downs and Suspensions – We are aware that the MOE documentation [the Good Practice Guidelines] continues to reference the Education Act 1989 in their letter templates on stand downs and suspensions, embedded in the document.
On the website the MOE writes that the following statement needs to be included in any formal letter to parents re a stand down or suspension:
Please note: The Education and Training Act 2020 has replaced the Education Act 1989. Any references to the Education Act 1989 in the Stand-downs, Suspensions, Exclusions and Expulsions (SEEE) Guidelines should be replaced with the relevant sections in the new Education and Training Act 2020. In Part 1, this includes replacing the sections of the Act in Appendix 1: The Education Act 1989 and Appendix 2: Education (Stand-down, Suspension, Exclusion and Expulsion) Rules 1999.
In Part 2, this includes replacing the sections of the Act in the letters in the Appendix in the Good Practice Guidelines.
The Pou Wha team has written to the MOE requesting that the online Guidelines booklet be updated as soon as possible. In the meantime, here is the link to the updated model letters
Civil Defence - Auckland Civil Defence (CD) recently shared insights with our executive regarding lessons learned from recent floods. Rohan Jadurum and Bridget Vercoe emphasised the critical role school principals assume - providing reassurance and confidence to the community - during such events. They advised using the region's designated 0800 number, reaching out to the local Ministry of Education office for information and support, reporting information via CD email, and staying updated through the local CD facebook pages. This year, schools served as CD headquarters when CD facilities were compromised. CD expresses their gratitude to those participating schools. CD has offered to work with NZPF to provide a disaster preparedness framework for schools and encourage school leaders to build connections within their community networks, to prepare for future events.
Tūwhitia te hopo, mairangitia te angitū. “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”
This whakatauki emphasizes the reality that when we are struggling, it can feel daunting or uneasy to acknowledge our need for assistance, let alone extend a helping hand to others. We must prioritize our mental well-being alongside our physical health. Even if it feels intimidating or uncomfortable, we must confront that fear and reach out for support or lend a hand regardless.
Ngā manaakitanga,Leanne
Manukura
New Zealand Principals Federation
NZPF Business Partners Team:
Gavin Beere (Convenor), Leanne Otene, Jason Miles, Karen Brisco, Shane Buckner
In 1994, NZPF formed its first business partnership with Konica Minolta (now FujiFilm Business Innovation). That is almost 30 years ago. Since then many more companies have joined us in business partnership to advance our mutual interests, share our values and above all advance education success for the ākonga of Aotearoa New Zealand.
One value that shone brightly for our business partners, through the difficult covid years, was ‘ngākau pono’ or loyalty. Every one of our partners remained with us through those challenging times, as we worked together to ease the burdens they were experiencing.
We are proud of our relationships with all our business partners, and for you, our members, the benefits are significant. Our business partners respect and support NZPF to take political, educational and strategic decisions independently, and we similarly respect their business decision making.
That said, our business partners make a significant contribution to you, our members by:
- Reducing the cost of attending the NZPF conference
- Making the option to fight unexpected issues, such as national standards in 2010, a realistic option
- Providing NZPF with the financial ability to employ high quality staff and contractors as necessary
- Mutual sharing of leadership expertise
- Allowing NZPF the luxury of financial stability for the future
We encourage you, our members, to acknowledge our partners for their contribution to the profession, at our Queenstown Conference in September.
Queenstown Conference Registrations Reach Capacity
The NZPF 2023 Conference Organising Committee has reported that registrations for the NZPF Queenstown conference 11 – 13 September have now reached capacity.
The committee cannot accept further registrations but please click here to be placed on a wait-list. Only principals may join the waitlist and be admitted - should there be any cancellations. The organising committee advises those on the wait-list not to book their flights and accommodation until their registration is confirmed.
Nominations open for NZPF Election 2023
Nominations are now open for the NZPF President, Vice President and 11 Executive committee members.
Click here for the form to nominate candidates for President and Vice President for next year.
Click here for the form to nominate candidates for the executive committee for the next two years.
Nominations close on 5 August and the electoral roll closes on 25 August. Your subscription payment must be received by this date in order to be eligible for voting.
Te Ariki Scholarship
The Ariki Trust has been established to commemorate the leadership research and development of the late Dr David Stewart. David’s legacy is continued through a memorial scholarship which is offered annually to principals, who are studying leadership.
Te Ariki is now self-funding and administered by Te Ariki Charitable Trust. NZPF and NZEI are the Trustees.
Applications for the 2023 Te Ariki scholarship are now open.
To find out more about the David Stewart Memorial Scholarship click here.
NZ Principal Magazine also Online
You and/or your team members can easily access the NZ Principal Magazines online, as an e-magazine or as a PDF. Additionally you can search for a previous issue, an article by title or by the author of the article. All magazines back to Term 1 2012 are available in this format. To view or search click here.
Secondary Schools' Council
We are in the process of forming a nationwide secondary schools’ student council and would like to pitch this idea to all principals, to gain the support and involvement of your schools. The idea is to form regionwide student councils, that would then feed up to a nationwide student council.
This body would represent students from across the country in one collective voice, and would speak on behalf of students to advocate on issues that students care about or which impact upon students. This would be done through discussions with lawmakers and politicians, some of whom, such as MP David Clark and Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich are highly supportive. We are confident that we will be able to work with these people to get improvements for students.
Currently, we have schools in most regions forming regional councils, however, this process is quite slow, and getting the message out can be challenging. What we ask of you is that you please pass our message on to your student councils, so they can get in contact with us about being involved. From there we can pass them on to the group forming in their region.
Thank you for your time,
Rohan O’Shea and Liza Piatova
Presidents, Joint Dunedin Students’ Council
Kōtui Ako Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa - Registrations invited for online Primary programmes starting Term 3
Extend curriculum choices for your learners and increase your schools confidence and capability in online and distance learning.
A wide range of language programmes available including te reo Māori and Kapa Haka; also Digital Technology, Creative Arts, Science, Maths and Literacy.
Registrations close Monday 19th June. Classes start the Week 1, Term 3.
Find out more and register your interest online
Contact primary@kotuiako.school.nz with queries.
All NZ tamariki are welcome to learn with Kōtui Ako - Nau Mai, Haere Mai!
Sir David Leven Essay Competition
How do we break down barriers between communities to improve social cohesion in New Zealand?
That’s the question Year 12 and 13 students will be invited to answer in a new essay competition to acknowledge the immense contribution of the late Sir David Levene.
The Auckland businessman and philanthropist, who died in August 2021 , changed the lives of many New Zealanders. He supported more than 400 charities including the Halberg Foundation, helped establish Outward Bound and backed champion New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko.
The essay competition is being run by the Astor Foundation which is a charitable organisation co-founded by Sir David to empower young people and communities achieve all they can – and to make New Zealand a better place.
Year 12 and 13 students at any New Zealand secondary school will be able to take part. The winner of the 2000-word essay competition will be published in the Herald and receive $5,000, with $2,500 for second and third place.
Check out www.davidlevene.nz for more details.
NZPF assures its business partners that, as members, you will contact them to have a conversation if you are purchasing products, services or solutions for your schools that a business partner supplies. Please support our partners as their assistance to NZPF means better membership services to you.
