15 April 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principals supporting Principals… Principals supporting Principles!

Kia Ora

Please find this week’s Monday (Wednesday) Mailing below.

Welcome to term two. What strange times we are now in.

It is hard to believe that we are now living in bubbles. I hope you have enjoyed time with your family bubble. In my case, living in a bubble with three generations (3 under 6) has had its challenges. Tolerance, patience and laughter has helped us in this time to make sure the bubble does not burst. Going forward I feel these attributes will need to play a major part of society if we are going to get through this intact. We have to accept the world has changed and this is going to include how education is going to be delivered in the foreseeable future. Who knows if the way learning is delivered in the next few weeks may become more accepted as the new normal.

It is important that we acknowledge the impact of covid -19 on our school communities of. There may be parents who lose their jobs and families put under financial stress. As public servants we are in a very privileged position. The word servant now takes on its inherent meaning, we have to be there to serve our students and families.

PS: I would just like to acknowledge the staff at the Ministry for being available to answer queries over the weekend.

Kia kaha

Remember this is your newsletter. Again if you would like to share a reading, opinion or an event feel free to contact me.

Kind regards
Tony Mangan
Glenview School

WPA Dates

From our President:

Kia Ora kotou

I hope everyone has managed some ‘down-time’ over the term break. Term 2 officially starts on Wednesday the 15thof April. If you are like me you are probably feeling some nervous anticipation about how the online learning is going to work. I like Perry’s comment regarding not trying to recreate our classrooms in our living rooms and that parents aren’t teachers so I think the key thing is to be realistic, it may not work perfectly the first day, or even the first week. These things take time to get up and going. If you need help ‘phone a friend’. There are lots of amazing things planned for tomorrow and I am sure that your friends and colleagues will be happy to share.

Communication with our communities is crucial. There is a lot in the media regarding possible scenarios for schools re-opening. Make sure you are communicating facts and not speculation. At the time I wrote this message there is still no confirmation regarding schools reopening. The Ministry of Education are guided by the Ministry of Health as yet there is no plan or process in place to reopen schools. It is likely the reopening process will look different across the regions. Ensure you engage with Iona Holsted’s Ministry of Education bulletins and use these as a basis for your communication with your communities, any plans to reopen will be released through the bulletins.

The WPA Executive will be meeting on Thursday to review our programme for 2020. It is likely we will have to cancel our term 2 Connections Day in the face to face format. We will explore other approaches for you to engage with Shay Wright on an online forum in a ‘compressed format’. The NZPF website states that at this stage there are no changes to the NZPF/APPA conference in Melbourne. We will advise you as soon as we hear of any changes to this.

Good luck for the start of our online term. Keep safe in your bubbles and keep in contact with each other.

Marcus Freke

Covid -19 response tip Podcast

Hong Kong Principal Neill O’Reilly shares his COVID-19 response tips with Waikato Principals Hamish Fenemor and Tony Grey. Neill was formerly Principal of Waitakiri Primary School in Christchurch, and developed this school as a result of the merger of 2 schools. Whilst a different context, Neill’s learnings post Chch have also been applied to our current situation, and he shares many “golden nuggets” regarding remote learning, communication, supporting staff wellbeing and leadership in general. While the video was initially done to support a few colleagues, we feel the messages could support the wider group.

This is the link;

Cheers

Hamish

NZPF / APPA Conference - Don’t miss the Early Bird Registration

Just a reminder that if you wish to attend this event with the WPA that we need you to register with our Website so we know to include you in our organisation of accomodation, as we cover this cost for you! It is included in your $500 registration with the WPA which can be done here:

Then….

1. Book your own flights (Recommended flight over 8.45am - NZ0123 arrives in Melbourne @ 10.50am and return Flight Home - NZ0126 arrives 12.20am in Auckland)
2. Register for the Conference - https://tcm.eventsair.com/transtasman2020/registration/Site/Register early bird closes 29th May
3. Wait for the Google Doc from WPA to indicate who you wish to room with and indicate your U grading (important for U1-3 scholarships)
4. Apply for NZPF Scholarship if you are U 1-4 http://www.nzpf.ac.nz/awards.html closes 1st May!!!

Hamish Fenemor
Waikato Principals’ Association
President
07 827 7651
027 450 8774

NZPF / APPA Trans Tasman Conference 2020

Our major event for 2020 will be the NZPF/APPA conference to be held in Melbourne 15th - 18th September with over $40,000 being placed into this event. We have 45 spaces pre-booked at the Dockland Private Apartments for this event.

We will be opening up bookings for this Conference on our website by the end of February so people can get in and book and just remember, as it involves overseas travel, you will need to seek permission from the Board.

We will cover your accommodation, transfer from/to the Melbourne Airport for those travelling on the recommended flights (more details to come), sponsors/business partners drinks/nibbles and a meal out as part of the package.

Again we will be offering scholarships for U1-3 Principals to apply for, with priority given to those who don’t receive an NZPF or NZEI grant/award such as the Don Le Prou Award, and those who haven’t received a WPA Scholarship in the past.

To help with Planning and Budgeting;

Conference Registration - $1,200 (AUD, member and Early Bird is $990 - conference dinner additional cost?)
Flights - $700 (approx. you could find cheaper flights)
Deposit for WPA - $500
Covered by WPA - accommodation, one evening meal, transfers from/to Melbourne Airport

Consider an amount for breakfasts and evening meals not covered, please note you have full apartment kitchens to use.

Sponsors’ note from Sitech

Kind regards/Ngā mihi nui,
kia ora, kia ora te iwi

All of our staff at Sitech especially sales consultants are taking the utmost care to protect ourselves and your school students and staff before and after we visit

Warren Leet
Education Technology Consultant - Waikato and Bay of Plenty

Sitech Systems (NZ) Ltd
Ph: 07 846 0060
M: 021 405 284
E: warren@sitech.co.nz

Upcoming staff PD

Rototuna Primary School is hosting Nathan Wallis for a day of PLD for their teaching team on Tuesday 13 October 2020.

We have 40 spaces available for other teachers in our area who wish to attend.

Here’s your chance to get all the latest brain development research from a valid source, in a series of talks that are made to make sense. Nathan's focus for the day will be talking about The Developing Brain: The Big Picture, including:

1. Understand Your Brain – The First 1000 Days
2. Engage Your Brain - 2-7-Years
3. Change Your Brain! Change Your Life!

We will be hosting Nathan at the St Andrew's Golf Course, 64 St Andrew's Terrace, St Andrews, Hamilton.

Morning Tea and Lunch is included in the ticket price of $175 (including GST).

The 40 available spaces will go to the first in, first paid!

Once payment is received, you will receive a confirmation email with your ticket number/s.

Please use the link below to register for tickets

Remember our sponsors, support those that support us

Schoolzine

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

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