26 June 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principals supporting Principals… Principals supporting Principles!

Kia Ora

Please find this week’s Monday Mailing below.

You can access all previous Monday Mailings by clicking here or going to http://www.wpa.ac.nz/1/newsletter_sets/1-monday-mailing/years/2017 in your web browser.

Kind regards
Pat

Help!

We are looking for mid and end of year report templates - Year 7 & 8 focus

Can this request be included in the WPA update please?

Responses to principal@deanwell.school.nz and I will pass them on.

Teaching Vacancy 1

Te Uku School: Fixed term teaching position available from 24th July to 19th December 2017. We welcome applications from NZ experienced and registered teachers keen to work closely with another teacher to plan for and teach children in Years 5 and 6.

Application Pack is available from the School Office: 07 8255815; bernardb@teuku.school.nz. Applications close 4:00PM Monday 26th June.

Rachel Allan
Principal Te Uku School

Teaching Vacancy 2 – New Entrants – Deanwell School

NE teacher, roll growth position, fixed-term 24 July to 15 December. We need a teacher with a willingness to nurture and inspire our youngest learners and who can create a family-like, caring classroom. Sound classroom management practices, experience with early numeracy and literacy programmes, and effective relationships with students and colleagues is essential.

Applications close 3pm, Wednesday July 5. Beginning teachers, experienced teachers, and qualified early childhood teachers are welcome to apply. If you have a lot of heart for young children's learning and want to be part of a hard working, supportive junior team, then don't delay, send through your CV with at least two referees listed. School visits are welcomed.

Forward CV to principal@deanwell.school.nz or phone Pat Poland, 07 8437069

Institute of Professional Learning – University of Waikato

Please find attached a request for registering interest in hosting teachers and principals from Saudi Arabia and advance notice of James Nottingham running another workshop next year.

MOE PLD Contracts – Support for Applications

New proposals for centrally funded PLD are due to the Ministry of Education 2nd August 2017

Institute of Professional Learning (IPL) accredited PLD facilitators can support Kura, schools and kāhui ako to prepare a new PLD proposal.

Call Allan Bull on 027 220 9462 or email allan.bull@waikato.ac.nz

PLD proposals submission date: Waikato– 2 August

ConnectEd

We have our conference day coming up on the 21st of July. We have lots of excellent presenters and Nathan Wallis as our keynote.

WPA Dates

Rant – COLs / Kahui Ako

The Principals Federation has been is discussion with the Ministry of Education regarding the furture direction of Communities of Learning. There is concern in some educational quarters that many areas of school governance, management, and learning are going to be embedded into CoLs.

The Secretary of Education / Ministry of Education has assured the Principals Federation that this is not going to happen. There is no hidden agenda.

But (and it’s a big but)

Policy is set and dictated by the Government (think about National Standards – formulated by the National Party, designed and implemented by the Ministry). The Ministry of Education’s task is to implement policy. National Standards is an example of this, as are Community of Schools / Communities of Learning / Kahui Ako.

So… do not be fooled by reassurances from the Ministry of Education. It is the Government that questions need to be asked of.

With this Government, there is always a hidden agenda.

Note: Opinions expressed in The Rant are those of the editor, Pat Poland; and not those of the WPA.

Hmmm…

Hauora… Health & Happiness

How to Handle a Rumor: The Test of Three

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me, I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Test of Three."

"Three?"

"That's right, Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to test what you're going to say. The first test is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's True or not."

"Now let's try the second test, the test of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued. "You may still pass though, because there is a third test - the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be Useful to me?"

"No, not really..."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"

A Reading…

Sir Ken Robinson: How to Create a Culture For Valuable Learning - click here.

A Thought… Leadership

A Laugh

I asked my daughter if she’d seen my newspaper. She told me that newspapers are old school. She said that people use tablets nowadays and handed me her iPad. The fly didn’t stand a chance.

Anton, do you think I’m a bad mother?

My name is Paul.

Optimist: The glass is half full.
Pessimist: The glass is half empty.
Mother: Why didn’t you use a coaster!

Mother: "How was school today, Patrick?"
Patrick: "It was really great mum! Today we made explosives!"
other: "Ooh, they do very fancy stuff with you these days. And what will you do at school tomorrow?"
Patrick: "What school?"

In Spain, there is a tradition after a bullfight to serve the mayor the bull’s testicles.

One day after a bullfight, the mayor asks the waiter: “Funny, why are they so small today?”

The waiter: “Today, sir, the bull won.”

Reminder: Pay Your WPA Subs…

Please pay your WPA subscription as soon as possible by clicking here. This is even more important if you wish to take advantage of the subsidies provided on the WPA Road Trip, NZPF Conference, etc.

Please support our WPA Business Partners

Schoolzine

Schoolzine is proud to be a digital partner and supporter of Waikato Principals' Association.

Schoolzine has been an industry leader in digital school communications for 10 years. They are dedicated to customer service, product development and understanding the school landscape that keeps them at the top of the industry. Schoolzine’s Parent Engagement Platform consists of 3 packages, an eNewsletter, Mobile App and Website offering. Purchased separately or together, they guarantee each package will make engaging with parents easy and even enjoyable for a school of any size. Schoolzine addresses the need for media-rich, interactive content that engages parents.