President's Message
He tia, he tia, He ranga, he ranga,
Haere mai te toki, Hamui ē, hui e, taiki ē.
Rise and press on, When the challenge arrives,
We will gather and unite together, Strength together it will be done.
Congratulations to World Cup Champions – the Black Ferns! The nation was entertained and inspired by their confidence, passion, belief and flair. They had a plan but also had to adapt to the disruptions that came their way. It was a dramatic final, filled with emotional ups and downs and brave decision making for the full 80 minutes.
Watching, this game seemed to reflect the year that has been for school leaders.
Like the Black Ferns, this year, principals have been working 110% doing ‘whatever it takes’ to plan, adapt and navigate COVID to support students, staff and whānau. ‘Red Light’ Health and Safety learning contexts, the daily logistics of COVID and developing and implementing creative solutions to reengage students have been just some of the challenges.
Some politicians do not appreciate that much of the work principals have done in 2022 is over and above the day job. There was an expectation that schools would stay open in 2022 and they have. The additional COVID leadership demands have been intense, unpredicatable and ongoing. At principal meetings in Invercargill, Timaru and Auckland this week, principals reported COVID was still disrupting school organization on a daily basis. Yet school leaders have continued to manage with dogged determination. As a sector, we too have been game changers.
Right now, we are in the 70th minute of the game, with the end of the year in sight. The hardest yards are coming, but like the Black Ferns, we need to stay the course, dig in and back ourselves to get to the end and take the win.
High Needs Review announcement:
Speaking of wins, last week Minister Tinetti announced the government’s commitment to implement a new ‘Learning Support Action Plan 2019 – 2025’.
The new system will include seven building blocks for change:
- A new service delivery system
- Customised tailored supports
- An integrated and inclusive schooling network
- Learning supports for Māori and Pacific students and their whānau that are developed by Māori and Pacific people
- A confident, capable workforce with the capacity to respond
- A new funding model to support a tailored and flexible approach and
- Stronger integration with other agencies.
If the new system reduces the paperwork, gets more funds to the classroom where the students are and properly resources the extent of the learning needs, it will have NZPF support.
It is expected that the building blocks will be developed and implemented in short, medium and long-term timeframes and will need significant, ongoing new investment. Minister Tinetti stated she will be seeking bipartisan agreement so this work will be continued regardless of which political party is in power. If this can be achieved, the plan would signal a new era of lasting change that we have been calling for since 2001.
As a sector, we need to ensure the ‘Learning Support Action Plan’ stays above politics and the ‘political churn’ of election cycles. Our tamariki deserve no less.
Road Show Update
Please note that the Nelson curriculum Hui scheduled for 29th November has now been cancelled due to road closures. It will be rescheduled next year.
In the meantime below are the 3 recordings of Robs online Huis
NZPF Media releases
This week we have sent out two media releases. The first is in response to the announcement of Minister Tinetti following the High Needs Review and the second in response to Mr Luxon’s comments on school attendance.
You can read the media releases here
Wondering of the Week:
With just a few weeks until the end of the year, do you have staffing finalized for 2023?
Results of last Week's poll:
Ngā manaakitanga
Cherie Taylor-Patel
cherie.taylor-patel@nzpf.ac.nz