16 September 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principals supporting Principals… Principals supporting Principles!

Kia Ora

Please find this week’s Monday Mailing below.

End of term is quickly arriving. Hope those who attended connection day enjoyed the messages shared. Whetu gave us a good insight to what it is like dealing with those who make important decisions impacting on education. It is then very important we get the best people representing us.

The vote is open in the NZPF elections, remember to go local, all the best Hamish!

Have a great week.

Kind regards
Tony Mangan
Glenview School

WPA Dates

Donations Requirements for Schools

As you know Budget 19 included a new policy that will provide decile 1-7 state and state integrated schools the option to opt in to receive $150 per student, per year, as long as they agree not to ask parents and caregivers for donations. The Minister has made an exception whereby if a school opts in they can still seek donations for school camps and other curriculum related trips where students are expected to be away overnight.

Around 1,700 schools are eligible to join the scheme. Schools that decide to opt in will do so for the 2020 school year and after that will need to opt in to the scheme annually. Eligible schools that choose not to opt in for the 2020 school year can decide on an annual basis whether they will opt in for future school years.

With the assistance of a working group of sector representatives, we have produced draft requirements for schools to make it clear what they can ask parents to pay for and to seek donations for. This includes draft requirements for those schools who opt in to the scheme and those who are ineligible or who chose not to opt in. There have been no changes made to the existing requirements for schools that choose not to opt in or for schools not eligible to opt in at this time.

We have also produced information for parents to clarify what they can be asked to pay for and what their obligations are for paying.

The draft requirements for schools will be finalised when the Donations Bill passes later this year. The draft requirements for schools provides information Boards need to consider when deciding whether to opt in to the scheme for the 2020 school year.

It is up to Boards of Trustees to decide how they will engage and communicate with the school’s parent community when making a decision whether to opt in to the scheme. Either the Board or Principal will need to let parents know the decision made and advise us if your decision is to opt in by 14 November 2019. You can do this by filling in the online declaration form at the link below. If the decision is not to opt in to the scheme for 2020, schools do not need to fill in the form or inform us of that decision.

As well as completing the online declaration form, Boards are required to record the decision to opt in to the scheme in a board minute. They do not need to send this board minute to the Ministry, however the board must make the minute available on request.

Schools that opt in to the scheme will receive their donations payment as part of their January 2020 operational funding instalment. The donations payment will be calculated based on the July 2019 roll.

Schools that become eligible to opt in to the scheme as a result of a decile review will still be able to opt into the scheme in the new school year. A separate process will be run with individual schools that are affected by a decile review.

Further information on the scheme, copies of the draft requirements for schools and information for parents are available here:

If you have any questions about the scheme you can email school.donations@education.govt.nz or contact the Resourcing Support Contact Centre on (04) 463 8383.

Property Forums being held in or region.

Principals and Board of Trustees Chairpersons,

We are holding a seminar for our Principals and Board of Trustee members this October 2019. These forums are a great opportunity to have your questions answered and receive updates on any changes coming up from a property perspective.

You’ll find more information about the seminar and how it can benefit you in the attached flyer.

You have three seminars to choose from, Taumarunui on October 22nd, Taupō on October 23rd and Hamilton on October 24th.

Please confirm your attendance by return email to cn.property@education.govt.nz, advising us the names and positions of those attending ie. Tom Jones Principal, Stevie Nicks Board Chair, David Bowie Board Member, Julie Andrews Board Property Rep/Finance officer, and the seminar location you wish to attend.

NB: We are aware the recent board elections may have not yet been captured on the invite list, if you are no longer the correct contact please do remind your school to update the ministry with the new chairperson’s information.

Mā te wā,

Narelle Waite | Regional Assistant | Central North
P: 07 850 8937
M: 027 263 0494
19 Home Straight, Hamilton

LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS SYMPOSIUM 2019

LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS SYMPOSIUM 2019

Learning Environments: Policy, practice, philosophies

Registrations are now open for the inaugural Learning Environments Symposium held on 11th October at the University of Waikato, Hamilton. If you are interested or involved in learning environments development, research, practice or policy, please join us for a stimulating day of learning, discussions and networking.

The symposium is organised by the New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE)’s special interest group on Learning Environments. It is a response to international and national interest in the design and development of innovative learning spaces across educational levels and contexts.

Invited speakers include Jamie Strange (Labour Party List MP, Hamilton), Chris Bradbeer (Stonefields School), Dr Leon Benade (AUT), and Dr Noeline Wright (University of Waikato).

Details and registrations for the event can be found here:

Kind regards,

Dr Elaine Khoo and Suzanne Trask
Co-convenors

Are you interested in school furniture?

We have been having a clear out to make space in our storage shed and have a couple of class sets of desks and chairs in good condition to give away. If interested, please give me a call.
Marie Bramley
Hillcrest Normal School
07 8566122

Thanks
Marie

Laugh:

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