Kia Ora Koutou

Matariki, marking the Māori New Year, is a multi-faceted event and is celebrated in various ways across our country. Its traditional role was to remember the departed. Now, Matariki is embraced as a joyful occasion symbolizing the cycles of life and death. 

Schools play a vital role in educating students about Māori culture and why Matariki matters enough to have a public holiday. Many schools organize Matariki events, encouraging students to engage in activities like storytelling, art projects, performances, planting, and community feasts.

These celebrations not only strengthen community bonds but also promote cultural diversity and understanding.

By involving schools and communities in the Matariki celebrations, this cultural observance becomes a shared experience, fostering unity and promoting the value of Māori traditions. It allows people to connect with the significance of Matariki and appreciate the beauty of the night sky while celebrating the beginning of a new year together.

Weather Hits East Coast

Once again we reach out to all our colleagues in the East Coast and Gisborne areas as they face yet another unexpected deluge, with road closures, slips and flooding. As principals said during Cyclone Gabrielle, the devastation was not just a one off.  It occurred on top of three years of covid fatigue and earlier heavy rain events. Now, the region is saddled with a further compounding floods episode.  One thing East Coast principals appreciated during the cyclone was to get a call from another principal.  No matter where from and no matter who. Just to talk to a sympathetic colleague was uplifting.  I would encourage you to check out the Gisborne schools and just ring a principal to offer moral support, empathy and aroha.

Kia kaha Gisborne principals.

Manifesto

The NZPF Manifesto has been released to political parties and it is interesting to note that no party has completely disagreed with our position. This is a good sign that political parties may be ready to take the politics out of education – as we have requested in our Manifesto.

That will not happen on its own.  It will require all of us taking every opportunity during the election campaign, to lobby for a cross-party coalition for education and stop education being an election campaign political football. To produce world class achievers - and we can - we need an agreed vision, long term plans, quality teachers and realistic resourcing which will not alter at the whim of electoral cycles.  NZPF representatives, including myself, will soon begin a meeting round of politicians from all parties to promote this position alongside all the areas of education outlined in the manifesto document.

 You can read a media report from “ The Post” here link

Houtū Meeting

I recently met with three senior Houtū from the Ministry, Isabell Evans, Nancy Bell, and Jocelyn Mikaere.

We discussed the up-coming NZSTA contract renewal process and whether there might be a way to include better protection for principals as employees of Boards.  There was also a discussion on the unevenness of training for Board members and a discussion on whether this should be mandatory or not.

It was noted that there is a reluctance on the part of principals to move to isolated areas to lead schools, in part because of their vulnerability.

We also discussed introducing an induction programme for every principal beginning in a new school, whether they are a beginning principal or an experienced principal.

The Ministry has vacancies in specialist Learning Support which so far have not been filled. We all recognise that this is challenging as there are insufficient specialists to fill all the roles.

The question of staff shortages was raised, drawing on the research recently undertaken by the Auckland Primary Principals’ Association. Work has been done to attract teachers from overseas, but it was agreed the preference was to have NZ trained teachers where possible.

ERO Releases Research

Last week ERO released their latest report on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on education. The research has tracked how students and schools have been doing over the last three years. Findings include that students are now happier and feel more connected to friends, but  principals are increasingly concerned about their learning.  To support schools to recover from the impact of Covid-19, ERO has released a guide for school leaders with key areas you can focus on – you can read this guide here. ERO  also recommends that schools continue to build on the work they have done on wellbeing, focus  on making up for lost learning opportunities, and target learning support for those who have been most impacted.  

This week, ERO released another report on the quality of Alternative Education in New Zealand. This report has found that, despite the hard work of tutors and learners, the model for Alternative Education does not enable learners to succeed. Learners in Alternative Education have significantly poorer outcomes than other young people - worse than those who are similarly disengaged. ERO is calling for a reform of Alternative Education – where every learner has access to a qualified teacher, a wide education programme and appropriate facilities. You can read more about this here: An Alternative Education? Support for our most disengaged young people - Summary | Education Review Office (ero.govt.nz)

In the coming week’s ERO will be releasing a report that looks at how new principals are set up to thrive. This study will look at the pathways to become a principal and the support they receive – drawing on the experience of new principals up and down the country.

Harvard Club

The Harvard Club of Australia wants to increase the number of New Zealand school principals attending the Harvard principals program to be held in Sydney from January 14th to 19th 2024.

Funding is available from the NZ Ministry of Education for professional development and we are hoping that there will be a successful up-take of this funding to pay for the Harvard course fee.

The Harvard Club of Australia is funding hotel accommodation and a traveling allowance to make it affordable for New Zealand Principals to come to Sydney next January.

The funding is easy to apply for and will be available to all successful applicants.  Round one deadline for scholarship funding is for applications completed by July 31st 2023. Details can be found at the following web address.

www.gse.harvard.edu/ppe/tpca

As the final week of the school term draws near, you will be looking forward to a good break.  Take time to also celebrate accomplishments that you and your staff have achieved over the last term. You have served your community and most importantly made a difference to the lives of your ākonga. Enjoy your holiday.

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.