President's Message
He waka eke noa
A canoe which we are all in with no exception
This whakatauki explains how ‘we are all in this together’. Where is the waka heading (vision/mission)? What is the waka made of (values/principles)? How do we work well together to paddle the waka most effectively (collaboration)? It can be interpreted in many ways, but it encourages us to explore the most effective ways to work together and shows us what is needed to proceed.
Kia Ora Koutou te Whanau,
The weekend brought significant political change to our country. Principals are focused on how change may affect education. As a professional body, we will focus on education policies and prepare to respond and act accordingly.
Congratulations to Our New Prime Minister:
We extend our congratulations to Mr. Chris Luxon, who has been elected as our new Prime Minister. We acknowledge the responsibility that rests on our government to shape the future of education. It is imperative that we continue to work closely with the government and the Ministry of Education on all education policies and initiatives.
Building a Respectful Relationship:
To effectively influence the direction of education in New Zealand, we must build a respectful and collaborative relationship with government agencies. This relationship recognizes the status of each and the unique value that we both bring to the table. With healthy relationships, we can strive for an education system that truly embodies excellence and equity. Once the new Minister of Education is appointed, we will seek a meeting as quickly as possible.
Addressing Concerns:
We understand that the prospect of change can be a source of concern for many in the education sector. The uncertainty surrounding potential reforms and policy shifts is a topic of discussion among our members. We appreciate these concerns and are committed to addressing them as they arise.
NZPF's Clear Plan for the Future:
To navigate any changes, NZPF has put in place a clear plan. As previously communicated, we have shared the six principles of our manifesto through a media release. These principles serve as a yardstick against which we will measure all new policies. Research evidence will strengthen our responses.
https://nzpf.schoolzineplus.com/media-release-13-10-23
Active Involvement of Regional Presidents:
We are inviting all Regional Presidents to play an active role in shaping our response to policy changes. Each time a new policy or Ministry advisory is released, we will seek direct feedback from our Regional Presidents through a survey.
The Survey Process:
Beyond the survey, Regional Presidents will have the opportunity to provide comments that align with the principles, offering insights from their respective members. This approach will allow us to quickly determine an NZPF response that represents the collective voice of principals across the country.
Your Role:
Through your Regional Presidents, you will all have an opportunity to contribute to the NZPF response. With your voice and our voice, we can present a strong, united front.
We have shared this plan with your Regional President, and we strongly encourage you to engage in this important dialogue.
We believe that together, as a united body of educational leaders, we can navigate any changes and advocate for an education system that upholds excellence and equity for all ākonga.
Thank you for your dedication and commitment to our education system. Kia Kaha e hoa ma.
Ngā Pou E Whā
To listen, to learn, to act.
Pou Tahi - Te Kaiarahitanga / Leadership
Tracy Fraser, Stephanie Thompson, Jason Miles, Leanne Otene
Wellbeing Fund Opportunity 2024 - Global Principal Partnership (GPP) Exchange
Are you looking for an exciting opportunity in which to invest your well-being grant? Have a think about this:
The New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF), in partnership with the Ontario Principals’ Council (OPC), is excited to announce our exchange programme for Tumuaki in 2024.
Late last term we sent you a special bulletin with a flyer outlining this opportunity.
The Application process is now open! Applications close on 6 November 2023.
Application process:
- Complete the GPP personal profile survey, including your focus of inquiry - due November 6, 2023. (This link will also register your interest in the exchange)
Successful applicants will be matched to a counterpart via the GPP survey profile, and all applicants are informed by OPC and NZPF on the status of their application (anticipated that matching will be completed by late November).
Participating in the GPP will give you the opportunity to experience and learn in a completely different school context and to share your own school leadership by hosting an Ontario principal in New Zealand.
Pou Rua - Te Marautanga / Curriculum
Heidi Hayward, Karen Brisco, Jen Rodgers and Blair Dravitski
Update to our work:
In late August the NZPF Pou Rua team met with Ministry officials. One of our key requests was that TOD professional development for Te Mātaiaho, offered by the Ministry from their regional offices, must be consistent across the country and advertised well in advance.
We have received an update this week to advise us that the schedule for this professional development is still a work in progress. We hope to be able to have some positive news to share in the next Principal Matters newsletter in two weeks’ time.
A reminder that you can also find resources to support your TOD’s here:
https://temahau.govt.nz/teacher-only-days-2023-2024/resources
Pou Toru - Students / Ākonga / Inclusive Education
Shane Buckner, John Bangma, Phil Palfrey and Gavin Beere
Many of you will know that initial pupil numbers across the country indicated that RTLB clusters, which, like schools, are also staffed according to roll numbers, would experience reductions in 30 of the 40 clusters.
Following the analysis of the data from our March Roll Returns, the 30 clusters were advised accordingly. Timing dictated contract requirements. However, following the July Roll Returns, we were pleased to see that the initial impact would be far less. Only 6 clusters will reduce by 1.00 FTTE or less, with 5 clusters increasing by one RTLB while staffing in the remaining 29 would not change.
As previously indicated, the first of the Highest Needs Review hui to establish next steps was held during the break. There were 10 people in attendance, by zoom. These included one parent, one NZSTA, one principal and seven MOE staff. As the famous American footballer and coach, Lou Holtz once said - when all was said and done, more was said than done. There are two more hui in the calendar. Setting action plans for highest needs tamariki is well behind schedule, given in November 2022 the prediction was to have plans in place within six months.
Pou Wha - Te Tikanga Ture/ Policy/ Systems
Hayley Read, Julie Hepburn, Cherie Taylor-Patel
Purpose and Scope of School Attendance Regulation Review
The Ministry is conducting a review of school attendance regulations, and we are seeking your input. The main issue is declining student attendance rates, influenced by factors like socioeconomic conditions, school culture, student experiences, and challenges faced by children with disabilities or neurodivergent needs. At the core of the review is the government's 2022 Attendance and Engagement Strategy, designed to address these very concerns. The review will examine regulatory settings related to chronic non-attendance, focusing on motivating parents and caregivers to ensure their children attend school consistently.
Chronic non-attendance is an escalating concern, prompting an examination of enforcement measures and exploring non-regulatory methods to enhance attendance. There is also an urgent need to update the 1951 Education (School Attendance) Regulations to align with modern practices and technology for data collection, utilisation, and reporting. The review aims to bridge data gaps, ensure school boards meet their obligations, and standardize data collection procedures.
Your participation in this review is critical. Principals play a pivotal role in addressing attendance challenges and shaping the future of school attendance regulations. The Ministry invites your input to ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive in our education system. To contribute, please contact Maria Kirkland at Maria.Kirkland@education.govt.nz or complete this form with your thoughts and ideas.
He waka eke noa
A canoe which we are all in with no exception
Ngā mihi,
Leanne
NZPF President