Monday Mailing Week 19th May 2025

Few ramblings from the Editor Leo

Don't worry, we have a Parent Portal to Help!

Last weekend I received two significant emails which I had not anticipated. The first was from Erica on Sunday, May the 4th (and I was definitely not feeling the force at the time), and the second from the Ministry pertaining to the surprise launch of the new Parent Portal. Whoop, whoop. We then got another email from the Director of Education on Monday, ALL reiterating to us that the much-needed 'Portal had Arrived.' You do have to love a good weekend work update, they are so good at building your hauora, allowing you to relax and to switch off.

Now, within 72 hours of the portal launch, I had received subsequent questions from worried staff, queries from leaders about 'Reporting to Parents' messaging shared, and then I even got a few fun questions from fellow principals asking, 'Where the hell did this come from?' 'Where were you part of the consultation group?' and my favourite 'How does this help us?' My intelligent (as I am an intellectual subject to confirmation) went a little like this.....'Ummm...Not me, nah, ohhhh yeah, nah?'

Now don't get me wrong. I am not opposed to keeping parents better informed and can totally appreciate the intent. That said, I do have a bucket of concerns or questions around the 'Portals' creation and can see more holes in some of the launch strategy than you would expect to see in the average Roman Sandal. Here's my brainstorm or dump, and your feedback is always appreciated!

• The Minister unveiled the 6 Key Priorities -This isn't one, so why the portal now? We don't even have the whole curriculum yet?
• We had no prior notification that this was coming, and I was not asked for input (rude)! Who was asked and what (who) was the driver? How do you get on the 'special people list?' (Special in a good way).
• At a time when we have schools coming to grips with NZC changes, rollouts and potential assessment changes, how are we best served by the Minister giving portal information (and ammunition) to parents before we as educators have even consolidated our own practice and expectations? 
• The resource appears wordy, very generic, and does not reflect that schools are self-governing. Does this form of parent communication mean that more successful high-functioning schools run the risk of losing their autonomy despite producing outcomes? Are we being subtly pushed to all be the same? Conspiracy theory?
• The intent may not have been to put pressure on schools, but I would suggest the reality will compound our building of pressure on teachers. How constructively will this be used by your average 'helicopter' highly anxious parent? I can already hear the Maureens, Karen's, and Trevors at gate duty now "Leo, the Minister says......'' 
• Recent announcements continue to feel like a lolly scramble in a hurricane. The bag is the same size but who benefits seems more based on whim than logic? What happens to the losers? Who are the new losers? How many lollies can one take to the head before we fall over? Ok, I'm being a drama princess but this stuff always has me thinking, why?

As mentioned last week, there seems to be a great deal coming out in the media that promotes government spending on education to our parents. Definitely political lobbying. What this does not openly address is what are the practical costs, what's being moved, who misses out, what are the long term implications and how does this all address the teacher crisis, principal retention, principal turbulence factor and teacher wellness? Transparency would be good.

Well, I am off to enjoy the last session with the WPA Principals Study Tour Group, which I have no doubt will provide some themes for discussion in the next MM edition. Like our recent Rotorua event, it has exceeded expectations thus far. I also look forward to seeing what will emerge for us through the budget release this week. I remain hopeful but also exceptionally skeptical. Let the lolly scramble begin. Go the Chiefs.

Leo

PRINCIPALS AWARD WINNER- Our thanks to David Graham, who has kindly offered to share some of his well crafted study tour notes with you all. I strongly suggest you take five to skim through these as there are a few key messages from some of the larger players in NZ education worth exploring. David is a bloody good bloke and unlike me he knows how to articulate himself effectively!

WPA President Lesley Lomas

Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa,

My piece for the Monday Mailing was written while on the WPA Sector Engagement Tour to Wellington last week:
Greetings from sunny Wellington.  A bit of a surprise to us all: we have been blessed with lovely, mild weather while on our WPA Sector Engagement Tour.  On the first day of our tour, a group of 26 principals from Waikato spent time at Parliament meeting with the Minister of Education, the Rt. Hon. Erica Stanford.  We had an informative conversation and question time with the Minister and were reminded to tune into the Budget announcement at 2 pm on Thursday 22 May.  

We also met with other sector leaders on the first day of our visit to Wellington.  This included Ripeka Lessels and Stephanie Mills from NZEI; Ellen MacGregor Reid, the Secretary for Education who was accompanied by the MoE curriculum and property leads; and Leanne Otene, the President of the New Zealand Principals' Federation.  We were able to hear detailed information about current issues in education and our questions were answered by the people leading in these spaces.

Gregor Fountain from NZ Sport and Lesley Hoskins from the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand were the speakers who presented on the second day of the tour.  Gregor emphasised the importance of physical movement for our tamariki and the ways movement can support learning.  Lesley Hoskings explained her role at the Teaching Council answering questions and providing us with clarity around a number of the Teaching Council's roles.  
Belinda Webber from NZSBA met with us on the final day of our tour explaining some of the current work streams relating to school boards.

A big thank you to the WPA Executive members who planned this very successful Sector Engagement Tour and to Sandra Jeffrey, our administrator, for her excellent logistics organisation.  We look forward to the June Connection Day, our next WPA event.  Registrations are open on the WPA webpage.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Lesley

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Few laughs and a giggle to end

Ok it's cheesy but the immature side of me still loves a little Johnny joke!

Little Johnny comes home and tells his daddy, “Dad, tomorrow there’s a special ‘Adults’ evening’ at school.”
Daddy is surprised, “Really? Special?”
“Yes,” nods Johnny, “it will be just you, the teacher, the headmaster, and two police officers.”

The Sunday school teacher is a little concerned that his kids might be a little confused about Jesus, so he asks his class, “Where is Jesus today?”
Suzy replies, “He’s in heaven.”
Mary replies, “He’s in my heart.”
Little Johnny says, “He’s in the bathroom!”
The teacher says, “How do you know this?”
Then Little Johnny says, “Well, every morning, my father gets up, bangs on the bathroom door, and yells, ‘Jesus Christ are you still in there!?’” 

Little Johnny asks the teacher, “Can I be punished for something I haven’t done?”
The teacher is shocked. “Of course not, Johnny! That would be very unfair!”
Johnny is relieved. “That’s good to know,” he says, “Because I haven’t done my homework.” 

Teacher: “Who can tell me where Hadrian’s Wall is?”
Little Johnny: “I suspect it’s around Hadrian’s garden!”

WPA Business Partners

WEBSITE ANGELS

Kia ora, 
I hope that you are well and that the term is going well for your Kura.
We have been busy here and have been working in well with a wide selection of Primary, Intermediate and Secondary Schools throughout the Waikato.  
I am contacting you today to ask for a meeting to discuss your current school website, your messaging around your school - or both.  At Website Angels we have a proud, long term association with the Waikato Principals Association and we are reaching out as we would welcome the chance to outline our services and how we can help you.   There is no obligation, but we absolutely love working with schools and we often make a large difference to the perception and messaging of our partner schools, often for a very little outlay.
If it is of interest, please reach out to me directly and we can arrange a time to meet up, it would be much appreciated.

  
Kind Regards,

Steve MeertensChief Executive Officer