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Ki ngā whakaeke haumi
Ally yourself with those who have already banded together
Kia Ora Koutou e te Whanau,
Much has happened since the school gates opened this year - locally, regionally, and nationally. Locally, your mahi will be focused on your individual school’s ākonga and local community, whilst in your wider region, your Principals’ Association will be working up both social and professional opportunities for you and your regional colleagues to participate in. Nationally, your entire profession is thinking about the new government’s policies for education.
Recognizing that we are all in this together, is crucial. There is far more that binds us together than separates us. Our ākonga depend on our leadership and for that reason we should always strive to grow as individuals and as a Profession.
I urge each principal and every Regional Association to foster communication, share experiences, and learn from one another. By reaching out to our colleagues - near and far - and sharing both successes and concerns, we enhance our collective capacity to make a meaningful difference. Last week I sent out a survey to all the Regional Presidents to seek feedback on one of the government’s proposed policies. The questions were based on a set of six principles, constructed collectively by our Regional Presidents. I urge you to connect with your Principals’ Association and contribute your voice to your region’s responses to the survey. The Regional survey does not close until the 6th March so that Associations have the chance to discuss the policies. Our national response, will be informed by your feedback.
On Monday 17th February I met with all our National Sector Leaders to discuss each National Association's goals for 2024. Like you, The National Presidents and leaders recognise the importance of working together, especially on issues that resonate with us all. Whilst we may have sector specific memberships we ultimately are here to support our members in order to improve outcomes for our young people. The National Education Leaders Partnership Forum was a great opportunity for whakawhanaungatanga but also to listen, learn and discuss collective action. In literal terms today’s Whakatauki supports this collaboration - Ki ngā whakaeke haumi - join those who can join sections of a canoe, as large canoes often consist of several sections and joining them requires considerable skill. In our case, the whakatauki more generally serves as a metaphor - that one should seek leaders who are able to weld diverse groups into a combined working group.
As your National President, I am here to listen, and seek solutions. Like you, I think about what I have heard and researched and seek out best practices before taking action, always focusing on constructive steps forward. This approach extends to our NZPF Executive team. Together, we serve as your voice, but we also strive to identify solutions and advocate on your behalf. That requires us to develop strong and respectful relationships with our educational partners - the government, The Ministry of Education and The Education Review Office.
I am delighted to share the work of our recent NZPF Executive meeting through the Ngā Pou e Whā reports below, and express my gratitude for the dedication of all executive members, who, despite their demanding roles as full-time principals, embrace the responsibility of representing you in various leadership forums. Each one is responsible for liaising with a group of Regional Associations so please invite them to your Regional Meetings - even if it is just a 10 minute slot to either listen to you or report on the work of NZPF - they all love zooming!
Our Ngā Pou E Whā Rōpū addresses a multitude of issues between our monthly meetings. They represent you and advocate for you on many different national groups, use available research to analyse new policies and emerging directives, and advocate for improvements to services, such as learning support, that your schools need to best serve your ākonga.
Your NZPF Executive is fully committed to representing your professional interests and ensuring that the voice of Principals is heard at every level.
Ki ngā whakaeke haumi —
Ally yourself with those who have already banded together.
Ngā Mihi,
Leanne
Ngā Pou E Whā
To listen, to learn, to act.
Pou Tahi - Te Kaiarahitanga / Leadership
Stephanie Thompson, Jason Miles, Leanne Otene, Jen Rodgers
Ten Components of a Leadership Strategy
Pou Tahi is dedicated to promoting a Leadership Framework and establishing an Aotearoa/NZ Centre for Principal Leadership that will support principals throughout their career.
Over the last year we have supported the MOE Principal Leadership Advisory Programme.We have also supported our NZ Research Partners in their work so that we have credible data, evidence and sound recommendations for our advocacy work. We have connected with Principal Leadership Centres across the world to identify excellent practises that could be adapted and applied in the NZ context.
NZPF has now identified ten components of a leadership strategy and set our strategic goals for 2024.
The key aspects and one example of our focus for each are:
Sustainability - Continue to work closely with the MOE, NZSTA | NZSBA, and regional presidents on induction of principals into a new school community.
Recruitment and Retention - support the beginning principals programme and advocate for an aspiring principals programme. Excellent Principals mean excellent outcomes for Ākonga.
System Leadership - Aspiring to Experienced Principals - A roadmap to sustainable principal leadership which identifies the system changes required to retain and recruit principals.
Well being and Work Conditions - inform and promote professional and well-being support available for principals.
Strategic Workforce Development - gather regional voice through regional association presidents attending the NZPF Moot which informs the strategic actions of NZPF for 2024.
PD (Gold Star Standards) - Private and Public PLD - ensure sector-endorsed PLD opportunities are available to principals in an equitable way and advocate for an endorsement process (Quality Assurance) for private PLD.
Resources: sector support - promote, elevate and share the importance of, and variety of, resources and support for principals, as appropriate.
Professional Insights - maximise our relationships with our research partners to promote research which has a principal leadership focus.
Innovation - promote and communicate to principals options of innovative PLD..
Cultural Responsive programmes - continue to promote and support principals to further develop their cultural capabilities and enact Te Tiriti o Waitangi through PLD such as MAC and Tautai o le Moana
During the course of this year, we will provide updates and detail the progress made within each component.
Pou Rua - Te Marautanga / Curriculum
Heidi Hayward, Shane Buckner and Blair Dravitski
New good practice report on teaching maths in Years 1-3
Last week ERO released their latest report and good practice guide on teaching maths to Years 1 – 3 children. The report highlights a range of actual best-practice maths teaching, that ERO observed in New Zealand classrooms, and draws on current evidence of what works for maths teaching in the early years.
Alongside the report, ERO has produced a practical guide to provide primary school teachers with tools they can use to support them in their teaching of maths in Years 1-3 - which is a critical time for developing a strong foundation of maths understanding.
You can find the report and good practice guide on ERO’s new Evidence and Insights website – a new online hub for ERO’s insights and resources: https://evidence.ero.govt.nz/
ERO will also be running a good practice webinar for Year 1 – 3 teachers. The ERO team, who developed these resources, will discuss the key good practice areas that have been highlighted for maths teaching. This webinar will run from 4pm – 5pm Wednesday 28 February. Anyone who is interested in attending is very welcome and can register by emailing TeIhuwaka@ero.govt.nz
Pou Toru - Students / Ākonga / Inclusive Education
Hayley Read, John Bangma, Phil Palfrey and Tracy Fraser
A new school year and a change of government have not so far made any positive difference to Learning Support. While we have been told that any state sector savings will not affect ‘front line’ services, we keep hearing of regions that are not being well served with learning support and some that have witnessed cuts in hours for support staff. We have asked our President to formally seek assurance from our Secretary for Education that front-line services have not been affected, and will not be affected, including actual hours for learning support staff.
After many hours spent on the Highest Needs Review, the outcomes appear to have fallen off the radar. It is likely that the review may have been transferred to the work programme for the Ministerial Advisory Group. Their report is due to the Minister soon. We will still request assurance of the Secretary for Education that the review remains current for the future.
Finally, we want assurance that the inequality across our schools in the Learning Support Coordinator space is being addressed. The first tranche came with a flourish and those of us who missed out sit and wait. This is clear inequity!
Pou Whā - Te Tikanga Ture/ Policy/ Systems
Julie Hepburn, Gavin Beere, Karen Brisco
NZPF Membership
By now you should have received an email to renew your NZPF membership. Check your spam if it's not in your inbox. Please contact the NZPF office if you don’t think you have received it: office@nzpf.ac.nz
Your membership entitles you to subscribe to our legal support scheme, PASL. We strongly recommend you join PASL to protect yourself from any legal challenges.
PASL - NZPF’s Legal Advice and Support Scheme is designed to protect you as an employee of the Board - follow the links on our website to join. This will cover you for up to $30,000 of legal support and 1 free hour of legal advice accessed through the PASL helpline.
Principals who pay for their own PASL contract and then move to a different school, will still own the contract and take it with them. If the owner of the contract is the School Board, then the cover will be for whoever is the principal in the school. If the principal goes on leave, or sabbatical, a short term contract can be set up for either the principal on leave or the person acting as principal. The Legal Support Application Form includes an outline of the support available and how to access it.
Call 0800798798
At Your First Board Meeting
Ensure that you appoint the Presiding Member.
The Board should already have approved a schedule of delegations to you as principal. Check if you have this, and while you do not have to approve this every year, it is important for the Board and you to know that delegations are in place.
Schedule of Delegations Policy Document
Strategic Plan Deadlines
1st March: Submit your Strategic Plan 2024-25 through the data portal
31st March: Publish your annual implementation plan
https://www.education.govt.nz/school/schools-planning-and-reporting/#dates-2024
Ki ngā whakaeke haumi
Ally yourself with those who have already banded together
Ngā mihi,
Leanne
NZPF President
Applications for Grants
Applications for grants close on the 1st of March 2024. Please find the links to the application forms below:
PLD Grants for Principal Associations
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 2024 Te Ariki scholarship are now open and close on the 31st July.
To find out more about the David Stewart Memorial Scholarship click here.
Trans-Tasman Conference 2024, Christchurch
Early Bird registration for the Trans-Tasman Conference 2024 in Christchurch is now open, click this link to access the website.
For Regional Presidents: NZPF MOOT 2024
NZPF Moot 2024
Date: Friday 22 March 2024
Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm followed by social hour
Venue: The Lambton Ballroom, The Intercontinental Wellington, 2 Grey Street
More details to follow, if all Regional Presidents could please mark this in their calendar and RSVP before Friday 6 March at admin@nzpf.ac.nz then it would be much appreciated.
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.
Choosing furniture for your learning space is more than just selecting chairs and desks. It’s important to start with a plan and trusted partners by your side. Furnware can take the hassle away with innovative school furniture, resources backed by research, and a full-service model if you require it.
Check out our recent case study with Te Wharekura O Te Kaokaoroa O Pātetere, a total immersion Māori school in Putāruru. This kura is led with a cultural narrative that Furnware has embraced for the past 10 years.
“Furnware listened to what we wanted to achieve and helped us to achieve it, with quality products. We seek suppliers who can deliver results within our cultural narrative, and Furnware is very good at that.”
Keith Silveira – Principal | Te Wharekura O Te Kaokaoroa O Pātetere
Principal wellbeing is always of primary importance, and when your wellbeing is taken care of and you have tool kit to lean into, you can become the leader of your school community with confidence and courage.
This year, impactED have organsied an exciting event for New Zealand Principals to build a tool kit and grow their leadership skills.
Join us as we embark on a transformative journey at Google HQ in Sydney, alongside other educational leaders you will embark on a groundbreaking Principals’ Wellbeing Session, focused on you, your wellbeing, and personal and professional growth.
During the 3-day event we will delve into,
- Strategies to navigate the complexities of the digital age.
- Fortify your leadership skills to manage challenging staff dynamics.
- Embark on a professional liberation journey.
- Gain insights from thought leaders at Google HQ in Sydney.
- Leverage impactful sessions led by impactED.
- Draw inspiration from The Warehouse Group's commitment to education.
Join us on
Mon, 29 April – Wed, 1 May 2024
Sydney, Australia
Are you ready to go beyond boundaries?
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.
