Monday Mailing 12th May 2025
Message from Leo the Editor- Budget Time!
Robbing Peter to Pay Paul
She's pretty interesting times to be in education at the moment, and, by the looks of things, the fun is just getting started. Yes, it's budget time, and as a principal, this always leaves me feeling a little nervous and pondering what it's likely to cost us this time. I would say 'bring us', but I am a realist.
I am unsure if you are as cynical as I am in this regard, but for as long as I can remember, the education budget hasn't seen a dramatic growth in scale, outcome, or size. To be honest, much of the focus typically seems to be on a politically led redistribution of existing funds or rearranging the way the same 'pot' is utilised. Creative accountancy 101. This is then followed up by a whole lot of false advertising, political posturing, and MP promises around what differences the shift in onus will make to schools. Imagine, just imagine what life could be like for principals if:
- The education pot actually got bigger.
- The investment in education truly reflected the crisis in education we face today.
- The pot was not distributed with a political lens.
- The pot funds were allocated with a lens towards actually addressing the need as opposed to making the books look better.
I have been fascinated in the past fortnight to read about the pending axing of Kahui Ako, the $53 million investment in paying teachers' registration fees, the launch of a new financial literacy curriculum, a new parent portal and potential changes to learning support. Now, this all makes for interesting reading, and I am sure that the average non-educator would look at this and think, 'wow, this makes fiscal sense'. The tension points for me around this, however, sit with what is not shared or espoused with our wider community. Again, half propaganda truths are espoused at the detriment of schools.
Personally, breaking these announcements down, I first look at the axing of CoL. Yes, I agree they didn't always work, not all were financially viable, and proving outcomes in some instances may have been a challenge to navigate. That said, in some respects, they have brought communities together, attempted to breach the primary vs secondary divide, and also have given primary schools an additional opportunity to empower teachers through WSL and ASL appointments and associated remuneration. It is fairly obvious that Erica has decided that these currently Kahui Ako funds will now be 'shifted' towards addressing things like teacher registration or the learning support crisis. In my mind, the ramifications we could face going forward without CoL could include things like:
- A significant reduction in access to units, which serves as a great incentive for staff and provides a method of acknowledging work beyond the norm.
- A reduction in access for many schools in regards to quality PLD.
- The potential for greater fragmentation in the sector and less professional sharing.
- More experienced teachers stepping out of education in search of 'higher aspirations.'
In regard to the decision to pay teachers registration fees as a vehicle for retaining and attracting teachers, I am sorry, but I just can't see the correlation. The extra $550 over three years is nice, but it does not change conditions, expectations, or pressures. More of a short-term fix like a Powerade after a hard night on the turps, or a large flat white on a Monday morning!
Now, for those of you who do know me, you will be aware that I cannot see into the future, I ain't that smart, and I am not on Erica's speed dial list. That said, I would strongly suggest (using my extraordinary ESPN senses) that the new education budget won't make it better, it won't serve as a catalyst to make more people choose teaching as a career, and the 'pot' won't grow. I will gladly eat my shoe if I'm wrong!
I did have to laugh a little when Erica announced last Wednesday that “Embedding essential financial skills into the curriculum will ensure our young people are better prepared to make informed financial decisions in a complex financial world. This will positively impact their lives and the broader economy.” I wonder if her Government team has applied the same skills to create an 'informed education budget?' Yeah right. For some reason, I am thinking about an ice-cold Tui?
Have a great week, remember to find some joy in your day, and laugh lots. Leo
Few words from our WPA Leader, Lesley Lomas
Ngā mihi nui i tēnei te wiki tuarua o te wāhanga hōu. Greetings to you all in our second week of the new term.
I hope you were able to enjoy some well-deserved relaxation over the holiday break. Now that the new term has begun I hope your first week back at school went well.
The next WPA event is our Sector Engagement Study Tour to Wellington from the 14th to the 16th of May. Registrations for this event have now closed.A reminder that there are U1 and U2 principal scholarships available to support attendance at WPA events including our Connection Days throughout the year. If you would like further information about a scholarship please contact Lesley at principal@aberdeen.school.
WPA subs are now due for the 2025 year.
Have a great second week back everyone.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Lesley
Professional Readings, Viewings and Interesting Bits You May Have Missed.
This week, I have included a few clips around leadership lessons. In my opinion the best one is the one from Simon Sinek below discussing leadership, passion and lessons learned. Definitely worthwhile 20 minute watch. I have also pasted a few of his other lessons below. If you are not an avid Sinek fan, I would suggest you should be!
According to Sinek, one of the most valuable leadership traits is selflessness. He says that great leaders are willing to sacrifice their own interests for the sake of others. They make their employees feel secure and draw them into a circle of trust. (The video has a neat SAS link that addresses this directly)
5 leadership lessons we learned from Simon Sinek
- Don't focus on being number 1. ...
- Act, don't react. ...
- Train your people. ...
- Happiness and Joy are two different things. ...
- Your WHY is fixed, VISION is more fluid.
True leaders also practice key behaviors on a regular basis in order to strengthen the positive impact of these qualities.
- They are self-aware and prioritize personal development. ...
- They focus on developing others. ...
- They encourage strategic thinking, innovation, and action. ...
- They are ethical and civic-minded.
NZEI and NZSBA Fixed Term Agreement Reminder
At our recent WPA Retreat we were given the opportunity to sit with leaders from both NZEI and NZSBA. It was as part of these conversations both groups highlighted the challenges school principals are getting themselves into around Fixed Term Contracts. Even as experienced principals, I strongly suggest you explore this theme. If you are anything like me you have always tried to use FTC to your advantage. Please do be aware that the most dramatic increase in school pay outs to teachers can now can be directly attributed to FTC issues and associated complaints!!!
Fixed Term Employment Agreements
Check the position meets the legal requirements to be fixed term. Whenever you consider using a fixed term employment agreement, you must check that it meets the legal requirements to be considered a true fixed term. This can present a legal minefield and good practice is recommended.
Find out more about Fixed term employment agreements
Please feel free to call Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa / New Zealand School Boards Association for any query regarding fixed terms – even if its to check your reason meets the requirements of a fixed term or review the letter of offer of employment.
Few Laughs and a Giggle to End
Wet Day Pick Ups- Reason 1 Why I want a Career Change!
To add a bit of a giggle to your day, I took a letter I crafted to parents a few years ago (in jest) and have thrown it into the MM for a laugh. Please note I did get in trouble for using it previously and it did get picked up by a local DJ, so I don't recommend you using it. To add a bit of further fun, I then ran it through Chatgpt and asked it to do a re-write, which I have pasted below the fun images in case this sort of humour appeals!
Hukanui School Drivers Newsletter
From the Stressed Principal’s Desk – A Wet Weather Survival Guide
Dear Esteemed Parents, Guardians, and Drivers Extraordinaire,
Ah, the sweet scent of rain on the pavement, the gentle drumming on roofs, the absolute carnage that is wet day pick-up at our School. Truly, nothing brings out the very best in humanity like a light sprinkle from the Waikato heavens.
As the most humble Hukanui principal, entrusted with safeguarding your precious darlings (and trying to keep my blood pressure below dangerous levels), I feel compelled — no, honour bound — to address a few... shall we say, creative interpretations of common sense that flourish the moment a raindrop is detected within a 5km radius of Chartwell.
Let’s begin:
1. Driving and Parking – An Interpretive Art Form
In dry conditions, many of you are practically Formula 1 material. Come rain? It's as if driving school was merely a suggestion. Parallel parking becomes park-anywhere-you-like, preferably sideways, across three spots. Bonus points for blocking driveways, crossings, and any other vital exit route. Gold stars to those who abandon vehicles mid-road with hazard lights on — a move so bold, so avant-garde, I can only applaud your commitment to inconvenience.
2. Road Rage – Setting Excellent Examples
There’s nothing quite like a "robust discussion" (complete with colourful language and creative hand gestures) over who was here first. Especially when delivered through a car window, at maximum volume, in full view of your children, their classmates, and that family of ducks trying to cross the road. Remember, kids learn best by watching us.
3. Fear of the Rain – Children Are Surprisingly Waterproof
Despite popular belief, our students are not constructed from sugar, cardboard, or paper mache. A few droplets will not cause disintegration, irreversible emotional damage, or spontaneous combustion. Scientists have confirmed: children do not melt in rain. They may, however, become slightly damp. This is survivable. No concrete pills or bubble wrap required.
4. Refusal to Follow Staff Directions – A Fun New Tradition
When our long-suffering staff, decked out in hi-vis vests (looking like slightly damp bananas) politely suggest alternative parking or queuing options, this is not an optional exercise in creative decision-making. Contrary to some beliefs, staff are not conducting "choose your own adventure" stories. They are merely attempting to ensure your offspring make it home alive.
5. Patience is a Virtue (We Read That Somewhere)
We understand that after six whole minutes of waiting, it feels like a lifetime. Your time is precious. And yet, remarkably, so is everyone else's. Leaping across curbs, mounting footpaths, or performing low-speed vehicular jousting to shave seconds off your pick-up time isn’t quite the spirit of community we’re aiming for.
In Summary:
Rain does not exempt us from road rules, common courtesy, or basic spatial awareness. Our children are watching (some of them with popcorn). Let’s give them a masterclass in patience, teamwork, and not parking like caffeine-addled wombats.
We love your children — truly — and we love our school. Let’s work together to survive another wet day pick-up season with minimal property damage, emotional scarring, or minor vehicular incidents.
Yours in soggy solidarity,
Leo Spaans
Principal, Traumatised Survivor of the Wet Pick-up Wars
Hukanui School
Chatgpt version- Not recommended for school use...... Things we'd like to say but cannot.
Hukanui School Drivers Newsletter
From the Principal’s Desk – Wet Weather Pick-Up: A Masterclass in Chaos
Dear Wonderful, Talented, and Occasionally Unhinged Parents,
There are few sights more moving than the first drop of rain hitting the pavement — a tiny, innocent sign from the sky that signals the beginning of full-scale parental meltdown at Hukanui School.
Truly, wet days are a beautiful disaster: a symphony of honking, yelling, wild gesturing, and some truly creative parking manoeuvres not seen outside of demolition derbies at Kihikihi.
As your fearless leader (and part-time traffic controller/peacekeeper/therapist), I feel it’s time for a gentle reminder of a few things:
1. Driving: A License is Not a Participation Certificate
Believe it or not, wet roads still have lines. And rules. And laws. Parking sideways across exits, double-parking in live lanes, and turning the pick-up bay into your personal lounge room are not endorsed by NZTA, the police, or anyone trying to remain sane. Remember: hazard lights are not a magic 'I can stop anywhere' button — no matter how urgent the rescue mission.
2. Rain vs. Children: The Great Myth
I can confirm — after extensive, highly scientific research — that exposure to rain does not cause spontaneous melting, dissolve children into puddles, or turn them into emotionally damaged husks. (If anything, it may toughen them up!)
Our students can survive walking 20 metres to a car under mild precipitation. You can let them get slightly damp without notifying Search and Rescue.
3. Road Rage: Because Nothing Says "Good Role Model" Like a Screaming Match
As you lean furiously on your horn, screech at another parent, or perform that charming window-down shout-off about parking rights, please know: your child (and 200 others) are watching. Recording it in their brains. Possibly adding it to their future therapy sessions.
Top tip: If you want your children to value kindness, patience, and conflict resolution — this is not the vibe.
4. Staff Instructions: They're Not Optional
Our hi-vis-wearing staff aren't standing in the rain, smiling through gritted teeth, because they enjoy getting verbally jousted by a parent who believes the rules apply to "everyone else." If they politely direct you to move along, it's not a starting point for negotiations. It's a lifeline, thrown to keep the entire operation from sliding into Mad Max territory.
5. A Radical Thought: Manners, Patience, and Rule-Following
Before launching into battle for that prime parking spot (we know, we know, your child is special), may we humbly suggest a new approach:
Use your indicators (they’re not just decorative!)
Wait your turn (novel idea)
Smile at fellow drivers (even the ones who cut you off)
Listen to staff without eye-rolling or sudden amnesia
Maybe — just maybe — show your kids what being a decent human under pressure actually looks like.
Imagine it: a school community where parents role model patience, respect, and sensible driving… even when it rains!
Dare to dream, Hukanui. Dare to dream.
In Closing:
I adore your children. I quite like most of you. I'd love to still have functioning nerves by the end of winter.
Let’s work together to make wet day pick-up slightly less of a scene from a post-apocalyptic action film. We can do this. I have blind, desperate hope.
Yours in soggy survival,
Leo
Principal, Traffic Warden, and Keeper of Sanity
Hukanui School
WPA Study Tour- Last Chance!!!
Ready for an unforgettable experience? It’s not too late to check your diaries and join us for the Waikato Principals' Association 2025 Wellington Study Tour, a must-attend event for education professionals!
14 - 16 May 2025
This is your exclusive opportunity to dive deep into the world of education leadership and sector engagement, all while connecting with top leaders, influencers, and experts in Wellington.
Why you can't miss this trip:
- Meet the Minister of Education, Erica Stanford, and key MPs at the iconic Beehive!
- Engage with the best in the field: From NZEI to NZPF, NZ Sport, and the Teachers Council.
- Learn from sector giants like NZSBA and E Tipu E Rea on leadership and governance.
- Network with fellow leaders while enjoying premium accommodation and hospitality.
This is the perfect chance to expand your knowledge, build relationships, and bring back valuable insights that will elevate your work. This is our last week of registrations, before we have to confirm our rooming list, so don’t miss out!
Join us for an inspiring journey in the heart of Wellington, where you will also get to enjoy some wonderful culinary dining while catching up with amazing colleagues, and maybe you'll even get a little wind-blown - you won’t regret it!
For more information and registrations, click hereWPA
Air New Zealand flights are still available
1: Depart HAM 8.20am - Arrive WGTN 9.35am
2: Depart HAM 6.45am - Arrive WGTN 8.00am
WPA Business Partner- Ricoh
We’re excited to be involved and to have the opportunity to support the WPA. Ricoh keen to assist in streamlining your print environment, supporting your IT procurement needs, and helping finance a wide range of technology — including interactive screens and more. Additionally, we have access to hundreds of scooter docks and would be happy to gift these to the school, with no strings attached. You're welcome to use them however best suits your needs — whether for student use or as prizes for recognition and engagement initiatives.
To help save you time and ensure you have easy access to the latest curriculum updates, curriculum printing is offering to print and professionally bind Te Mātaiaho: The New Zealand Curriculum Refresh for both English and Mathematics. Having a hard copy on hand can make it easier to reference and share during planning sessions, staff meetings, or PD. If you’d like a set prepared for your team, just let us know—our aim is to support you with a practical, time-saving service: E-mail:curriculumprinting@gmail.com for a quote and timeline.
Regards Nicky Roberts
