NZPF Federation Flyer No 19 – 25 November 2011
ELECTION SPECIAL
Tomorrow, Saturday we all (YES ALL) head to the ballot box and vote for the party we want to lead our country for the next three years. As your national professional body, NZPF has done everything in its power for the past three years to persuade the government that its present direction in Education is not a direction which you think is best for children’s learning and achievement, for teaching, for your own professional leadership development or for the retention of self-managed schools.
Further, you believe it is threatening to the continuation of our quality public education system, our world class education standards and world class achievement rankings. Perhaps more importantly than any other factor, you believe that the current education direction is a direct threat to our outstanding New Zealand curriculum, heralded throughout the world as an example of very best practice, and carefully designed in consultation with your communities to meet the needs of 21st century learners.
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This year you made this point very strongly at our NZPF conference by calling a vote of no confidence in the government’s education policy direction. I have taken a cue from that extraordinary vote and have continued to oppose policies which you have identified as creating concerns for you. These include the national standards which are the vehicle for driving competition within and between schools and creating public league tables which compare school results. We all agree that the National standards are flawed measures of assessment and have been calling for a review for the past three years. The Minister’s own advisory group the NSSAG, also agrees that a review should be undertaken. The Minister has so far chosen to reject that advice. More recently we have faced new threats with charter deadlines of 1st February being thrust upon us and the threat of advisors or statutory managers for schools that with very good reason continue to have non-compliant charters. Many of you report that your dealings with Ministry have recently led you to have concerns too.
This is no reflection on the capability of people working in the Ministry. Rather it is a reflection of the chaotic environment that current government policy has created. Consequently you are receiving Ministry advice and information that is inconsistent across regions and confusing for you as professionals. Finally, as a profession, we have been demonised, isolated and utterly disengaged from decision making. The culture of prescription is becoming more and more entrenched and professionalism is being trivialised and shut out. This is an election year and every group in the nation with a cause wants to be heard. My work on your behalf has been to represent these experiences of yours publicly and to politicians, and I have focused on doing that for much of this year. Despite having to compete for space on the airwaves, we have managed to achieve a sizable proportion of media coverage on our issues and at National Office have done all in our powers to keep your issues at the forefront.
Through this flyer and our magazine NZ Principal we have endeavoured to keep you updated and informed. Many of you have said that what we have witnessed in the last three years will result in the worst possible outcomes for children. We all entered this profession to make a positive difference for children. My message to you is: Do not let those children down on Saturday. It is the responsibility of all of us to vote for education policy that will support our profession to properly prepare our children to be fair and just citizens and contribute to our society to the very best of their ability.
Nga mihi nui me te aroha nui
Peter
Proudly supported by our Gold Business Partners
Upcoming Dates:
December 2-4 – Executive meeting, Wellington
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This Flyer contains information on:
1 NZPF Helpline – 0800 734 734
2 NZPF Moot – Friday 23 March 2012 - James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor, Wellington
3 2012 NZPF & APPA Trans Tasman Conference
4 Extra Support Staff at No Cost?
5 South Canterbury Principals’ Conference
6 NZPF Service Awards
7 Business Partners
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1 NEW NZPF HELPLINE – 0800 734 734
Please note that the NZPF Helpline has changed its number to make it easier for you to remember. The old number was 08 329 1719. The new number is 0800 734 734. We are deeply grateful to our Business partner CallPlus for sponsoring this service which a growing number of you are using. CallPlus is a valued member of the NZPF business partners’ group and has been offering communications services to your schools since 2008. Remember no problem is too trivial or too big. If it is a problem to you, your helpline personnel will view it as a problem to be solved. Our experienced executive members take all your calls seriously and in confidence.
2 NZPF MOOT – FRIDAY 23 MARCH 2012 - JAMES COOK HOTEL GRAND CHANCELLOR, WELLINGTON
This is the day where the NZPF invites the president of your local principals’ association to Wellington to inform and be informed about current issues, initiatives and happenings. From registration at 08:45 the formal programme runs through to 16:00 and concludes with a social hour. If you are the president of your local association mark this date in your diary and more importantly book your airfares and accommodation especially if you intend to stay over. Formal invitations and programme will be sent in due course.
3 2012 NZPF & AUSTRAILAN PRIMARY PRINCIPALS’ ASSOCIATION TRANS TASMAN CONFERENCE
The New Zealand Principals' Federation and the Australian Primary Principals' Association invite school principals to attend the next Trans Tasman Conference - Leading Learning. Date: Wednesday 19 - Friday 21 September 2012 Venue: the Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre. The formal registration application is now available. Register now to take advantage of early bird offers. Click here Early bird rates close Wednesday, 25 July 2012 Delegates will have the option to split their payment over two years.
4 EXTRA SUPPORT STAFF AT NO COST?
Could you use an extra staff member in your school? Work and Income's Mainstream Employment Programme has been successfully placing people with significant disabilities in support roles in schools since 2003. The programme provides a generous salary subsidy - 100% for one year and, for placements starting after 1 July 2011, 80% salary subsidy for the second year.
There are currently 100 participants in schools around the country, providing classroom and resource assistance, computer support, library support, and maintaining the school grounds. Mainstream helps with on-going monitoring and support during the two-year placement, and there are extra funds for external training and costs of equipment if needed. If your school has a roll of 300 or more, you could have an extra staff member starting in Term 1 next year. You'll get an extra willing worker, and a chance to help someone get the work experience they need to start on a sustainable career.
What clearer way to demonstrate your school's commitment to equal opportunity than to make it possible for a disabled person to be a role model for your students? Interested? Email mainstream@msd.govt.nz or call Pauline on 04 917 8188 now to discuss options. Visit www.workandincome.govt.nz/business for other information about how we can help employers.
5 SOUTH CANTERBURY PRINCIPALS’ CONFERENCE
The South Canterbury Principals invite Principals, DP’s and AP’s from around New Zealand to their 2012 Conference at Peppers Resort, Lake Tekapo from 2 – 4 April 2012. The Theme is ‘What Matters Most’. To find out more and register click here. Space is limited due to a cap on numbers, so be in early to secure your place. Back to Index 6 NZPF SERVICE AWARDS
To mark the retirement of school principals, NZPF has developed a special Service Award. If your local principals’ association is aware of any retiring principals in your region then have your President email membership@nzpf.ac.nz with the principal’s name(s). We will prepare a Service Award which will be emailed to your President for framing and presenting at your local principals’ association function.
7 BUSINESS PARTNERS
One of the undertakings the NZPF gives its business partners is that at the very least, they are given the opportunity by members to quote for a service or solution. They are realists and understand all too well the marketplace so giving them a chance to keep their collective pencils sharp is appreciated all round. PLEASE support our business partners as their assistance is very important to NZPF and you as members. Our Business Partners are:
Gold
CallPlus Services Limited
Furnware
Konica Minolta Business Solutions New Zealand Limited
Programmed Property Services
Scholastic New Zealand Limited
Silver
ALSCO
Lundia Shelving Limited
Sitech Systems N.Z. Ltd
Bronze
Ahead Buildings
ASB Bank Limited
Crest Commercial Cleaning Ltd
Equico Limited
MUSAC
OfficeMax
PhotoLife Studios Limited
Postie Plus Group Limited
Smith & Smith
UNITE
Interested in becoming an NZPF Business Partner? We welcome enquiries from businesses that are interested in engaging with schools. If you would like to know how a partnership with NZPF can add value to your business, while supporting New Zealand education , please email David Ellery (NZPF’s Business Partner Convener), for an information package and further details about NZPF.
