NZPF Federation Flyer No 20 – 8 December 2011
NEW GOVT, CHARTER SCHOOLS, SCHOOL PRIZE-GIVING/ CELEBRATING OUR CURRICULUM, COMMUNICATING WITH YOU
New Government
A new government has been elected for the next three years. I say new, because it is a government quite different from the last three years. National’s majority in the coalition government will be a bit fragile this time round and the opposition cross benches will be sparked with the return of the NZ First party.
NZPF is looking forward to initiating dialogue with the Minister of Education once cabinet positions are announced. There is now some urgency about that given the first education policy on Charter Schools has already been announced.
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Charter Schools
If you look back in history, New Zealand is listed as the first country to initiate Charter Schools, before the US. New Zealand’s 1980’s education policy reforms, ‘Tomorrow’s Schools’ dismantled the regional education boards to devolve power to local communities by establishing self-managing schools governed by their own boards of trustees. Each school has its own charter which is submitted to the Ministry annually.
Our public schools are charter schools. So why would we want some other model which has failed overseas?
It’s not about achievement. It’s really about the funding of our public education system. The Charter Schools under discussion now are to be funded partly by the government and partly by the private sector. They would be based on a business competitive model. They would be exempt from the rules and regulations that apply to our current public schools and would have targets of accountability to meet and be judged by. The possibility of performance pay for successfully meeting the targets is a common feature of such Charter schools in the US and in the UK (where they are commonly called ‘academy schools’).
2009 reports of US charter schools show that only 17% of children performed better than their public school counterparts with 46% performing the same and 37% performing worse.
Here are some points that you might like to use to help explain ‘Charter Schools’ in your local communities, at your summer barbeques or cut and paste them into your school newsletter.
Ø The best example of Charter Schools is what we have now in NZ: publicly funded self-managed schools governed by local boards of trustees. This system should be protected.
Ø In NZ there are some excellent and successful intervention programmes aimed at low decile schools with high proportions of Maori and Pasifika. Government should get behind these programmes which are showing they lift children’s achievement.
Ø A foundation group to develop Charter Schools in NZ will be established. This group does not include practitioners, which is like establishing a new medical clinic without asking the doctors. Here we have another example of the sector views being ignored and professionals being dealt to by non-educators.
Ø It is suggested that Charter Schools be trialled in South Auckland, where it is believed students are failing and are of low socio-economic status and Christchurch, since some of the schools there have been displaced by the earthquake. This is the last thing Christchurch needs after having such a traumatic year.
Ø Targeting Charter Schools for poor areas will result in the winner and loser schools in the same community.
Ø Charter Schools will undermine the world-class public education system we have now because so called ‘failing’ public schools will be closed and replaced with public/private funded Charter Schools. This will leave parents no choice but to send their children to the Charter School.
Ø There will no longer be equal access to quality publicly funded education.
Ø The privatisation model of Charter Schools will create competition in the sector and a break down in the collaborative culture that has made New Zealand’s education system one of the best in the world.
Celebrating the Curriculum and School Prize-Givings
Shortly, you will be conducting your annual prize-giving/award ceremonies. This is a special time for every school and an event that usually attracts a strong parent audience. Use this opportunity to celebrate and communicate to your parents the strengths of our NZ Curriculum and the creative ways in which your school implements the curriculum for the good of the children at your school. It is the breadth of the curriculum that gives us the edge and allows those children who may not easily warm to the likes of reading writing or maths activities to find a pathway which leads them to see the relevancy of these subjects. It is also what allows you and your communities to choose a curriculum reflective of the values that your community holds and in a context which has relevancy for the children in your school. Use your children’s performance routines at prize-giving to illustrate your points.
Let your parents know that league tables that will emanate from National Standards data will be at the expense of this rich curriculum and flexibility which we currently have. Right now every child is given the opportunity to learn to the best of their ability and in a way that best suits them. That is our focus as a profession. League tables will change all that.
Communicating with you
Over the next few months, as educational issues arise (and they will), we would like to be able to keep you immediately informed. That includes during the summer holiday break. Parliament is resuming on 20 December and we are expecting that there will be movement on the already announced Charter Schools policy.
Accordingly, we have sent you a special flyer with a survey link to fill out your details including your cell phone number. This is so that we can update our membership database and set up a text alert system to send you information or seek your response as required. Fill it out immediately, it will take only a few seconds to complete.
My thanks to you
This is the last Flyer of the year and I want to thank you all for the fantastic job you do for the children of New Zealand. I trust that you will all have a very blessed Christmas and make sure you get some relaxing holiday time.
Finally, thank you all for the support you have given me during the year which has been inspirational for me. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as your President.
I wish Paul Drummond and the executive committee all the very best for 2012.
Merry Christmas and God bless.
Nga mihi nui me te aroha nui
Peter
Proudly supported by our Gold Business Partners
Upcoming Dates:
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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 Spectacles Subsidy – Helping families with the costs of vision assessments & glasses for children Under 16
8 Some Exciting News from Scholastic
9 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.
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 Spectacles Subsidy – Helping families with the costs of vision assessments and glasses for children under 16 years of age
Families with children under the age of 16 who have a Community Services or High Health Use Card are eligible for the subsidy. There are versions of this brochure available in a number of languages on the website.
http://www.health.govt.nz/publications/subsidy-glasses-and-vision-tests-spectacles-subsidy Please feel free to include this link in your school newsletters.
Any queries please contact Janet Digby, Project Manager, ‘See Here’, A Project of the JR McKenzie Trust, Phone (09) 4456006
8 Some exciting news from Scholastic
Scholastic have just launched a new resource from Jill Eggleton – it is a writing resource for Level 1 writers that has all the renowned Jill Eggleton hallmarks.
It is called Key Links Writing, and it is engaging, deeply philosophically sound and linked to the New Zealand curriculum (and standards) with targets and exemplars. It is immensely practical and supportive of both teachers and young writers, and there is nothing like it on the market.
The news for you is that we have a priority customer price until the end of this school year of $599 (a saving of $100) per Kit, and even more savings for multiple purchases. Even better, with school funds pressured and often closed off at this time of year, that special priority price is also available to you as deferred payment. If you decide to take up this deferred payment offer, you will receive your Key Links Writing Kit(s) from us before the end of term, and you will NOT receive an invoice from Scholastic until February next year.
Please ring Scholastic on 0800 724 652 if you are interested in Key Links Writing.
9 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.
