Monday Mailing Week 1 2025

Message from the Editor- Leo

Well like all holidays, it all went too fast, I still didn't catch the 20 pounder, my liver barely survived and when I tried my dress trousers on this morning, they seem to have shrunk. That said, I had an incredible break and was blessed with sunny skies, calm seas and being surrounded by people I love. Here's hoping you all also enjoyed a wonderful holiday?

I now find myself in that Zen space where I am absolutely chomping at the bit to get into it and am looking forward to seeing the learners and whanau flowing through the gates. Schools are definitely better places when filled with noise, laughter and excitement. (Constructive chaos and mayhem in our context). A highlight for me over the week or so has been watching our two new PRT getting themselves ready for the arrival of their very first class. It is easy to see their youthful passion, pride in what they do and their willingness to 'get it right'. I am also inspired by their apparent calmness and knowledge. If I remember back 900 years ago to my first day as a I teacher, I can vividly remember suffering information overload, being acronymed out, feeling totally stressed and afraid that if I farted, things might go really wrong. They definitely leave me feeling reassured and inspired for the future.

Despite the developing school lunch debacle, arrival of new text books, David Seymours' harmful politically lobbying, ongoing curriculum day mandates and the noise around budget constraints, I remain optimistic that 2025 is going to be a good one for schools. I am hopeful that the Government will start to embed change (as opposed to change for change sake), that we will be given time to play with new Math and Literacy mandates and that we are left alone to do what we do best- Teaching and Learning. Only time will tell.....

I would also remind you all to read Tabitha Leonards' mailing today around energy and to ensure that in 2025 you do take time to strategically look after your own energy levels. Remember that Principalship is not a race and that planning for success over the next 200 days is a strategic action.

Have fun, be good and try to enjoy the Summer while it lasts.

Leo

A Message from Lesley Lomas our WPA President

Tēnā koutou e ngā Tumuaki o Waikato,

Ngā mihi nui o te Tau Hou.

I hope the year has started well for you, your staff, and your students. The WPA Executive has been working to ensure another productive year of advocacy, professional learning opportunities, connections, and networking opportunities.

Following positive feedback on process improvements made in 2024, we will be following up with membership registrations during February. Now is the ideal time to confirm your WPA membership and continue engaging in professional development and networking opportunities across the region. 

Membership simplifies your participation in WPA initiatives, including PLD events, conferences, and the election process.  This year, we offer a discounted rate for members at our Connection Days.

Please click here to register your 2025 school membership, which remains structured based on school grading. For any inquiries, please contact the WPA Executive assistant - Sandra Jeffrey. 

The annual WPA Principals' Retreat at Rotorua is coming up soon.  Registrations are open for this event on the WPA website and places are filling quickly.  Please register now if you would like to attend.  The retreat is being held from the 19th to the 21st of March and information about our guest speakers is available on our website.

We look forward to another year of collaboration and professional growth.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Lesley Lomas 

Professional readings, interesting views and stuff you may have missed.

Tuchmans Model of Team Development- If you don't know about this, then you need to do some Googling now! I personally love the 'storming' analogy and it's a brilliant way to encourage positive disruption and robust dialogue as a tool.

Who invented Tuckman's Team & Group Development Model?

In 1965, Bruce Tuckman presented a paper outlining his model saying that four phases were necessary for a team to develop and grow:

1. Forming
2. Storming
3. Norming
4. Performing
   and later:
   
5. Mourning or Adjourning

Tuckman's 5 Stages of Team Development has since formed the basis of many future team and group models, and is used extensively by management consultants and in team-building.

Specifically, Tuckman's model helps managers, leaders and team members:

• Notice what stage their team is at, helping team members to process and acknowledge the inevitable conflicts and changes during group development.
• Helps teams and groups accelerate through the group stages with awareness and compassion for each other.
• Ultimately improve team performance.

The second recommendation for ALL principals in regards to leadership 101 readings is

Building TRUST- by Brené Brown who wrote the great tool 'Dare to Lead.' 

BRAVING Definitions

The acronym BRAVING breaks down trust into seven elements: BOUNDARIES, RELIABILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, VAULT, INTEGRITY, NONJUDGMENT, AND GENEROSITY.

BOUNDARIES: Setting boundaries is making clear what’s okay and what’s not okay, and why.

RELIABILITY: You do what you say you’ll do. At work, this means staying aware of your competencies and limitations so you don’t overpromise and are able to deliver on commitments and balance competing priorities.

ACCOUNTABILITY: You own your mistakes, apologize, and make amends. VAULT: You don’t share information or experiences that are not yours to share. I need to know that my confidences are kept, and that you’re not sharing with me any information about other people that should be confidential.

INTEGRITY: Choosing courage over comfort; choosing what’s right over what’s fun, fast, or easy; and practicing your values, not just professing them.

NONJUDGMENT: I can ask for what I need, and you can ask for what you need. We can talk about how we feel without judgment.

GENEROSITY: Extending the most generous interpretation to the intentions, words, and actions of others.

The BRAVING Inventory can be used as a rumble tool—a conversation guide to use with colleagues that walks us through the conversation from a place of curiosity, learning, and ultimately trust-building.

Finally this week I have included a snippet from Tabitha called 'Start Managing Energy Today'.

This was a small piece but one I believe is key for all leaders. I am particular fan of seeking positivity, surrounding yourself with solutions orientated people, consciously avoiding negative individuals and organising my day to ensure I can restore and maintain energy.

Start Managing Energy

The path to a better future starts with one decision: to prioritize energy over time. When you focus on restoring and sustaining your energy, everything changes. Productivity increases naturally, creativity flourishes, and fulfillment becomes your norm—not your exception.

Here’s how to begin:

1. Audit Your Energy Levels: Reflect on when you feel most energised and when you feel drained. Use this awareness to plan tasks during your high-energy windows and rest when needed.
2. Invest in Recovery: Sleep, nutrition, and movement aren’t luxuries—they’re leadership tools. Treat them as such.
3. Protect Emotional Energy: Say no to draining commitments, cultivate relationships that energise you, and practice mindfulness to manage stress and stay present.
4. Lead by Example: Show your team what sustainable success looks like. Energised leaders inspire energized teams.

Energy management isn’t a trend—it’s a revolution in how we define high performance. By prioritizing energy, you don’t just do more; you do better. You thrive, inspire, and create a legacy of brilliance. The question is: will you take the first step?

The clock is ticking—but this time, not on your time. It’s on your energy.

Make it count.

MOE Updates and Useful Links

PLD Opportunity- Well Being

This is well worth a look and feedback has been exceptionally positive.

WPA Dates to Diary

A few laughs and a giggle to end

A reminder that if you are sensitive and do not want to be offended, I strongly suggest you do NOT read or visit this section of the Mailing. 

Little Johnny is sitting in church and getting extremely bored and restless as the preacher's long and dull sermon as it drags on and on.
Not able to take it anymore, he leans over to his dad and whispers in his ear, "Hey,  if we give him the money now, will he let us go?"

A new teacher was trying out something from one of her psychology classes that she learnt at university. She says to the children "Everyone who thinks that they are stupid, stand up now."
After a little while Johnny stands up.
The teacher asks him "why did you stand up Johnny? Do you really think you are stupid?"
Johnny replies "No Miss, but I hated seeing you standing there all by yourself".

Little Johnny's teacher is doing her rounds at lunchtime when she sees little Johnny pulling faces at another child. She starts to talk sternly to Little Johnny and says "Johnny, when I was a young girl I was told that if I made ugly faces and the wind changed, my face would stay that way."

Little Johnny looks up to her and says "Well miss, you can't say that you weren't warned."   

The teacher decided to ask the class a riddle. "Does anyone know how to put 2 holes into one hole?". None of the children knew the answer so it was their homework to go home and figure out how to put 2 holes into one. The kids came back the next day and still, none of them knew the answer. "I will show you the answer now children" says the teacher as he looks pretty chuffed with himself. He proceeds to hold his pointer finger against his thumb making a little ring. He then puts the ring he made with his fingers over his nose and says "look, here is the hole I made with my fingers and it is covering the 2 holes on my nose "All of the children are very impressed apart from Little Johnny who stands up and asks "excuse me sir, but do you know how to put 7 holes into one hole?" The teacher replies "I have no idea Johnny, why don't you tell us how do you put 7 holes into one hole?" Little Johnny replies "you simply sit on your recorder sir".

WPA Business Partners 2025

A reminder that our incredible Business Partners contribute significantly to the success of the WPA and the care of our Principals. When you are looking for top quality service, product and guidance, make them your first port of call.