1 March 2016

Newsletter Articles

Kia Ora

Please find this week’s Monday Mailing below.

You can access all Monday Mailings by clicking here or going to http://www.wpa.ac.nz/1/newsletter_sets/1-monday-mailing/years/2016 in your web browser.

Kind regards
Pat

Help!! BYOD Leasing

Do you know a company that will set up individual leasing arrangements with families to allow them to own digital devices? For example, a family enters a three year lease for an iPad or Chromebooks, paying the lease at $4 per week?

The school does not want to have anything to do with the leasing arrangement, apart from being the conduit between whānau and the leasing company.

Responses to principal@deanwell.school.nz please. And thank you!

Help!! School Uniforms

Grateful to hear from any schools who have a compulsory uniform, an example of a policy if you're willing to share it, and procedures you have in place when children don't wear correct uniform. Do schools have some 'loan' items for the day etc? Responses to Vicki at principal@tkp.school.nz please.

WPA Dates

Other Dates

Catch Up Day

March 17…. Register here and click Add to Cart.

The last two years has seen a rapid transition to collaborative teaching and learning in flexible learning spaces. What is the rationale for this, where is the research, why are we doing this and can it work?

Over two sessions Neill will share his research “Key components to creating effective collaborative teaching relationships"

The sessions include analysis of and lessons from the open plan era, key components leaders must consider when transitioning to collaborative teaching in a flexible learning space together with a range of templates and tools to examine where you are at and where to next.

Together we will discuss (and dismiss) the acronyms, consider how to communicate effectively with parents so they are onboard and consider consistent messages as an association of schools.

Come with your questions (in fact feel free to e mail them in advance! neill.oreilly@waitakiri.school.nz) and be prepared to work together in this most exciting of times in our educational history.

2016 WPA Subscriptions

You can pay your 2016 WPA subsection by clicking here or going to:

Core Education Breakfast – March 17

The first Core Education Breakfast for 2016 is on 17 March with Derek Wenmoth presenting - What will it mean to be educated in 2050?

Many of you had the opportunity to hear Derek present to the WPA in November last year. The seminar presentation is designed to provide middle leaders and teachers with the opportunities to:

• consider and challenge their thinking about the purpose(s) of formal education
• explore the drivers of change and the impact on how we think of schools and schooling
• examine some of the key trends and future state thinking
• consider the implications for their teaching, our schools, and our education system.

The workshop following the seminar will provide attendees with an opportunity to:

• engage in discussion and exploration of global trends and their potential impact on the education sector
• examine recent reports and findings and discuss implications for their school
• work collaboratively to design a future-focused approach for their context that addresses identified areas of need or opportunity.

Jo Wilson
Senior Consultant

CORE Education Ltd M: 021 2780768 T: jmw58

Online Programmes | In-depth learning at home | Variety of topics starting Term 1 2016 | View programmes and register

Rant – Craziness!!!

The latest craziness from the Ministry of Education (to be fair, it seems to be an Audit Office requirement) … A school’s annual financial statements are now required to disclose the time that Board of Trustees members spend on board activity!!!

How on earth is this meant to contribute to student achievement or well-being? Just another box to be ticked; just another time-consuming activity for school staff; just another expense for the school to carry.

Madness.

ConnectED

Quality Te Reo Māori Workshops

Kia ora koutou, principals and teachers,

Teacher feedback about these workshops is always very positive.

"Keep doing what you're doing! Tino pai rawa atu!"
"Looking forward to our rural schools TOD with you."

There are still places available in the term 1 workshops for Quality te reo Māori me ōna Tikanga workshops. Please register urgently for workshop 1 and for the others ASAP.

Creating a Quality te reo Māori Programme - Big picture planning - March 2
Growing a Quality te reo Māori Programme - team collaboration - March 9
Practice in the Classroom for a Quality te reo Māori Programme - April 6

Full descriptions of this interactive PLD and the registration forms are on the following site:

The 3 workshops will be repeated in term 2, but not in terms 3 or 4.

Looking forward to seeing many enthusiastic learners...

Ngā mihi mahana,
Nā Jeanne Gilbert

Jeanne Gilbert Consultancy
Pre- and In-service Teacher Educator
43A Checkley Road
R.D. 1 Raglan, 3295
Ph 07 8255728
Mobile: 027 29 42178
jeanne.gilbert.consultancy@gmail.com

Language exerts hidden power, like a moon on the tides. --Rita Mae Brown

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Work Wanted – Waikato Rugby Union

I have 2-3 lads that are looking for work currently. The details are below for one of the lads is:

Name: Jevon Forbes
Age: 19
Availability: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.00pm
Contact Person: Judy Clement: 021 471 862 or judyc@chiefs.co.nz

Kind regards,

Hmmm… Charter Schools

Our glorious government (nice alliteration) trumpeted the American model of Charter Schools when justifying the huge financial and ethical commitment they put into establishing these schools in NZ. Interesting article attached about one of the ‘successful’ schools in the States.

Basically, to ensure good pass rates they kick out any student not likely to pass…!

A Thought – Leadership

A Laugh

From Diane at Deanwell School…

An elderly Florida lady did her shopping, and upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle. She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her voice, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!"

The four men didn't wait for a second invitation. They got out and ran like mad. The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and get into the driver's seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition. She tried and tried, and then she realized why. It was for the same reason she had wondered why there was a football, frizbee and a 12 pack of beer on the front seat. A few minutes later she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down.

She loaded her bags into the car and then drove to the police station. The sergeant to whom she told the story nearly tore himself in two with laughter. He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four visibly shaken young men were reporting a car jacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun.

Moral of the story - If you're going to have a senior moment - make it memorable.

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