Monday Mailing 13th April

Few end of term words and some dribble from Leo the Editor

The Slippery Slope of my Principal Leadership.

This week I had the privilege to attend Raglan Camp with our year 4's and get a little bit of time for some play and some much needed reflection over the last term. To be honest, there was probably more playing and being an idiot than thinking but, 2 hours on the water slide did prompt this weeks editorial dribble. I am hoping that for some of you, that you can somewhat relate! If not, the joke is funny.... Nacho cheese! Hahahaha

The 'slide' pictured below serving as a great metaphor for me around what the term has looked and felt like. Sometimes me sliding up, sliding down, winning, losing, drowning, floundering, flying, flapping aimlessly, crapping myself, celebrating and at times coming a total cropper. All of it coming together to add spice, flavour, challenge and colour to my role. Funny though, as I started the reflection process, I found I could group my pondering's and recollections into two groups. In a nut shell, these are my random brain workings....

Negative thoughts and questions:

• Where the hell did the term go?
• God, its been a long week! Shoot me. Please kill me. I hate Mondays!
• As a principal, do I have to attend meetings?  Can I make a rule against them?
• What did I achieve?  Was it meaningful and would anyone else know?  Would anyone care?
• When was the last time I had dinner with my wife?  Does Lisa love me more when I'm not home?
• Am I in the right job? Do I know what I am I doing? Did I ever know what I was doing?
• God, is wanting a beer at 11am a bad thing? Can I go home now?
• Do these parents know we are trying to help? Do they really think we intentionally persecute their children just for shits and giggles?
• Is there a cure for stupid people? Is common sense dead? Are there more dumb people on the road at 3pm?
• Is there a conspiracy theory out to get me today? Does anyone love me?
• Who let this moron get a drivers licence? God.....is parallel parking no longer a thing?
• Was I so precious and bubble wrapped as a child? 
• What frustrates me more - Curriculum rollout, David Seymour, Trump, wet day drivers, or road cones?
• Does anyone listen to me in this place?
• Ladder of inference. Why is going straight to assumptions and blame a bad thing?
• Do I have Tourettes? Is the F word a noun, verb or adjective?
• Is 5 minutes a suitable retirement notification period?

Positive thoughts thoughts and questions:

• Man, this job rocks. Hukanui, you are the bomb.
• Leo, you are the man!  I beat the Year 2's in a swimming race. Why didn't I get a certificate?
• International Day, what an event. Who knew we could get 2000 people through the gates in an afternoon.
• I ate 14 dumplings in 10 minutes. Record. Wonder if 15 would be do-able? Is do-able a word?
• Dodgeball with kids. Who would have thought you could get paid for throwing stuff at kids?
• ORS application approved. Big team win, Nate supported for his school life! 
• Hanging out with WPA Principals, had a blast, too many beers and laughed till I cried. I still can't say no to peer pressure.
• Our staff are unbelievable. Despite me, they make great stuff happen.
• End of term drinks!!!! 3.05pm Yee-haaaa. It's brown, it's bubbly and it has my name on it.
• Started exactly 5 years ago. 5 Years ago we were closing schools due to COVID! Who remembers Bubble school?
• I reckon there are days, when I am just damn good! 
• Tony Grey, you know you still came third! 

Have a great break team. Make sure to breathe (it is a requirement) and remember looking after you is a choice. It's time to SLIDE into holiday mode. 

Leo

A message from our WPA President

Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa.

Thank you all for the work that you have been doing in your schools this term.It has been a busy term implementing change and working to come to terms with the refreshed curriculum, free Mathematics resources, and waiting for information about new assessment requirements.

Have a well-deserved break and I hope you have an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate during the holidays.

Ngā manaakitanga,
Lesley

Professional readings, viewings and things you may have missed

We have included two cool themes for principals this week. One around leaders perfectionism and the other about ethical leadership. The reading about changes to curriculum and the impact on Maori is also a goodie, as is the critique of education today. Some good themes to debate and discuss with leadership teams and for some self reflection.

What if I am not the perfect leader?

Leaders who know they’re imperfect are quick to admit their mistakes, and even quicker to put things right when they get something wrong. They don’t need to cover up their mistakes and pretend they haven’t happened. They’re able to tell it like it is and admit ‘That didn’t work,’ or ‘I’m sorry, I got that wrong.’ They view mistakes and failures as opportunities for learning and improvement.

If we think that we have to be perfect all the time, we can find ourselves becoming too scared to make a decision in case it’s not the perfect decision. Or too scared to try a new approach, for fear of it not being flawlessly executed first time. Being imperfect means knowing at any given moment that all we can do is make the best decision we can, given the information we have at the time.

Ethical Leadership is about being a leader who considers and works towards being a leader who:

1. Has Integrity: Acts fairly and represents the company in a fair way (both for their financial interests and morally)
2. Works to promote Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) within the workplace and is fair to all employees
3. Creates a safe work environment for those one leads (i.e. a psychologically safe workplace)
4. Provides transparency and is approachable, i.e. enables open communication
5. Leads by example, including by showing honesty and through a good and positive work ethic and manner
6. Can show empathy and compassion toward others.
7. Is someone others feel they can trust
8. Is socially responsible: Ethical leaders recognize their responsibility not only to their organization but also to the greater society.

Terms such as ‘Principled Leadership’, ‘Responsible Leadership’, and ‘Moral and Integrity Leadership’ are terms that are also used to describe ethical leadership.

John Peachey- The Think Farm

John Peachey is someone I have have had the pleasure tp work with in the past. If you are looking for some leadership guidance and provocation, this maybe of interest to you.

WPA Cale Birk and Andy Jones- Workshop Notes

The PDF link above is from Cale Birk and Andy Jones. These are the notes from the recent Rotorua Retreat. Please do take the time to download them!

WPA Update and

Kia ora everyone,
On behalf of the WPA, we have some reminders for you all:

• 2025 subs are now due. If you have not already registered please do so list of current financial members attached below.  

• Waikato Principals’ Association – 2025 Wellington Study Tour

  Sector Engagement & Leadership Connections
   14 - 16 May 2025

  Join us for an exclusive Sector Engagement Study Tour in Wellington, where you’ll have the opportunity to connect with key education leaders, policymakers, and sector experts.

  Why Attend?

   Meet the Minister of Education, Erica Stanford, and MPs at the Beehive
   Engage with top sector leaders, including NZEI, NZPF, NZ Sport, and the Teachers Council
   Gain insights from NZSBA and E Tipu E Rea on sector leadership and governance
   Network with colleagues while enjoying top-tier accommodation and hospitality

  ---

  For more information and registrations click here

Don't forget to pay your WPA Annual Subs!

NZEI Update

Kia ora koutou,

The negotiation team wants to hear from as many NZEI Te Riu Roa primary principals as possible before it meets on Monday 14^th April to work further on the collective agreement claim.  They have listened to the feedback coming from many meetings across the motu around the need for increased management time to be included in the draft management claim.   They’ve heard that the management time for those with a teaching load is simply insufficient. 

One final Principals' Draft Claim zoom with members of the negotiation team is scheduled for next Thursday, 10 April at 3:45pm.  The time has been chosen specifically to engage with our teaching principals, however all those that haven't yet given their feedback are encouraged to attend – everyone’s voice and perspective matters! 

YOUR DECISION + ACTION

If you think this Zoom would be useful for the people you represent, please circulate the link (below) through your networks.  Please invite using your own email as this is more likely to be opened and read.  It also profiles you as PC representative for your region or sector group.  Area Council reps can ask your PSO for member email lists.  I’m copying them into this message so that they are aware of this leadership activity.

Final Primary Principals Draft Claim Discussion Zoom Hui

 Tom Wallis has posted this information on our NZEI Te Riu Roa Principals Facebook Page.  Check it out and promote this as an effective way of keeping connected!

Director of Education- Drop In Hui

Kia ora koutou,

Thank you for joining us last week for our Tumuaki Drop-In sessions. It was great to connect with you all. The presentation from the session is attached, along with some helpful links shared by Anna below.

Link to the main Teacher Demand and Supply 2024 report: https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/series/a-summary-of-the-teacher-demand-and-supply-planning-tool/teacher-demand-and-supply-planning-projection-2024-results

Link to the Waikato specific data: https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/249646/A3-TDS24-Waikato.pdf

The support for overseas teachers I mentioned. https://core-ed.org/en_NZ/professional-learning/support-for-pcts-otts-and-their-mentors/

We’d also like to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible work you’ve all done with our ākonga throughout Term 1. Your dedication and leadership are truly appreciated. Wishing you a well-deserved break, a joyful Easter, and a relaxing holiday!

Ngā mihi nui,

Marcus Freke | Director of Education for Waikato

Few laughs and giggle to end.

Here are a few last minute images, memes and postings that tickled my funny bone over the last fortnight. I have included a page of Trump images. Like him or loathe him he certainly promotes some discussion! Enjoy the break team, remember to switch off, laugh lots and have a real break!

WPA Business Partners 2025