Newsletter

Don't forget to lock into your diaries our annual conference in Taupō from Wednesday 21 June to Friday 23 June.

Before the end of the term we will be sending more information out to you about conference.

As the conference has become more and more popular, and with the limited numbers  the Hilton can cater for, we are having to tighten up on who can attend conference. Registrations from principals will be accepted first with registrations from middle management accepted should there be space. Likewise, we are going to have to limit how many business partner staff can attend and we will be adhering to the numbers allowed for in the business partner contracts which is the same as the luncheons. 

Despite getting many calls and emails from companies wanting to have a presence at our conference, we only invite our business partners to conference to give your maximum exposure to the principals who attend. and will continue to do so.

We look forward to being with you at conference in June.

Our end of year luncheon is open to all business partners. However, we do not have stalls at the end of year luncheon, it is simply a time to sit back and enjoy everyone's company.

Business Partners who are invited to have a stand at Term 4 luncheon

ASB (allocation of 4 staff per luncheon)

All gold level partners: (allocation of 4 staff per luncheon)

• Crewcare
• EdTech
• Norrcom
• Oasis Education
• Photolife
• Sebel Distinction
• University of Auckland Faculty of Education and Social Work

Silver level partners: (allocation of 2 staff per luncheon)

• Footsteps Dance
• Noel Leeming

Bronze level partners: (allocation of 1 staff per luncheon)

• LecSafe
• Skids

Business Partners who are invited to have a stand at Term 3 luncheon:

ASB (allocation of 4 staff per luncheon)

All gold level partners: (allocation of 4 staff per luncheon)

• Crewcare
• EdTech
• Norrcom
• Oasis Education
• Photolife
• Sebel Distinction
• University of Auckland Faculty of Education and Social Work.

Silver level partners: (allocation of 2 staff per luncheon)

• Edwards Sound
• Linewize
• Tui Tuia Learning Circles

Bronze level partners (allocation of 1 staff per luncheon)

• Cushionfall Reharvest
• Equico
• Playground

Business Partners who are invited to have a stand at Term 2 luncheon

ASB (allocation of 4 staff per luncheon)

All gold level partners: (allocation of 4 staff per luncheon)

• Crewcare
• EdTech
• Norrcom
• Oasis Education
• Photolife
• Sebel Distinction
• University of Auckland Faculty of Education and Social Work.

Silver level partners: (allocation of 2 staff per luncheon)

• Footsteps Dance
• Noel Leeming

Bronze level partners: (allocation of 1 staff per luncheon)

• iLearn
• Lundia
• MOTAT

Business Partners who are invited to market at our Term 1 luncheon

ASB (allocation of 4 staff per luncheon)

All gold level partners: (allocation of 4 staff per luncheon)

• Crewcare
• EdTech
• Norrcom
• Oasis Education
• Photolife
• Sebel Distinction
• University of Auckland Faculty of Education and Social Work.

Silver level partners: (allocation of 2 staff per luncheon)

• Edwards Sound
• Linewize
• Tui Tuia Learning Circles

Bronze level partners: (allocation of 1 staff per luncheon)

• Auckland Museum
• Deejays
• Learning Network New Zealand

Kia ora koutou,

For the fourth year in a row our first term has been disrupted. Let's hope this is all we get for the rest of the year and all of us can settle back into our schools and businesses. Hopefully none of you, our business partners, suffered too badly over the past two weather events.

Once again, I'm the Business Partner Liaison for APPA and it gives me great pleasure to let you know about our upcoming business partner lunch at Ellerslie Events Centre on Wednesday 1 March. 

Cecilia Robinson, founder and creator of one of New Zealand’s most successful ever start-ups My Food Bag, will be our guest speaker. Cecilia has three children, two are primary school age and a pre-schooler, and she will speak around the topic, 'Have the expectations of parents towards engaging with school changed, how do parents see their role in school in the 2020’s and what does this look like from both angles?'

The programme for the luncheon is:

11:00 Business Partner access for set up

11:30 - 12:20 Principals arrive

12:20 Opening karakia and AGM

12:50 Guest Speaker

1:30 Lunch served

2:00 Cash bar available

2:45 Bar closes

As you will see in the programme, we are trialling having a cash bar after the lunch for those who want to have a drink and network.

Below is the roster for business partner marketing at our luncheons through the year. If you are down for marketing at this luncheon, please RSVP through this link or to Sue Green at executivesecretary@apa.org.nz stating how many of your staff will be present. You're welcome to bring more if you wish and Sue will invoice you for those over and above your contracted allowance.

Business partners who aren't down to market at the luncheon are more than welcome to attend. Here again, please RSVP to Sue at executivesecretary@apa.org.nz and she will invoice you for the lunch. 

Ngā mihi,

Kevin Bush

027 292 7706

businesspartners@appa.org.nz

After the rugged start to the year, we are looking forward to our first Business Partners' Luncheon of the year on Wednesday, 1 March at Ellerslie Events Centre. 

We are pleased to announce Cecilia Robinson, founder and creator of one of New Zealand’s most successful ever start-ups My Food Bag, will be our guest speaker. Cecilia has three children, two are primary school age and a pre-schooler, and she will speak around the topic, 'Have the expectation of parents towards engaging with school changed, how do parents see their role in school in the 2020’s and what does this look like from both angles?'

Make sure you book your seat for our first BP Luncheon through BP Lunch at Ellerslie Events Centre – APPA Registration or executivesecretary@appa.org.nz. 

As only one nomination for each of the office holders was received, there was no need for an election and the following people will form the 2023 Executive after the AGM on March 1:

We thank these principals for standing for office and the work they do representing Tāmaki-Makaurau principals.

The council meeting scheduled for tomorrow, 15 February, has been postponed until Wednesday 22 February, 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. at Newmarket School.  Park in the lower car park and take the lift to Level 3.  

We hope your family, your staff, and your school and community have made it through Cyclone Gabrielle with little to no damage. If you haven't, and you need support, remember to reach out to any member of APPA executive, your local cluster prinicpals, or your Ministry EA. At times like these we try to be Herculean when in reality, it is the support of many who get us through. We are all here to help.

This morning our Directors of Education sent out two documents which we have added links to here. The first one has links to access relevant  information and resources within the Tamaki Makaurau region to support emergency planning and management, the other is an Emergency Response Checklist

On the weekend the decision to close our school remained with school boards or their delegated Emergency Response Team. If, after checking your school campus, you and your school board feel it is too unsafe to allow students and staff to return safely, your school board still has the authority to keep the school closed until it is safe to reopen. You will need to advise your Ministry EA of this decision.  During this event it was impressive to see our local APPA Clusters, Kahui and other networks pulling together sharing communications and decison making.  

Kia Ora ngā Tumuaki o Tāmaki Makaurau

We warmly welcome those colleagues new to Auckland principalship in 2023. And what a start we all had to our new school year. 

Once again your outstanding school leadership during the signifiant weather event over the last week has been to the fore.  We continue to hear accounts of Auckand principals and their staff helping their own and others in their communities, some having to manage school property damage, while supporting their own whānau. 

In addition, working through, and managing the MoE communications debacle added to our challenge.  We have provided feedback on these communications to Minister Tinetti and to the Secretary of Education.  We have passed on our thanks to Isabel and the Auckland Directors and their teams, they were quickly in contact with support, and with this event ongoing, are at the end of an email if further support is needed. 

Undoubtedly your principal well-being has taken a hit over the last week. I remind you that your colleagues are at the end of a phone, and the Gold Star (EAP) resources and webinars are well worth watching. There are 400 plus of us leading schools in the Region, we are not alone.  Remember that the APPA Executive are here to help and support in any way we can.  

The APPA Calendar

The APPA calendar https://appa.schoolzineplus.com/ is a very important part of the APPA site, so please check the meeting dates for this term in your calendar.   We have also included the dates for the APPA Conference in June in the calendar.

Term 1

15 February   12.30 - 2.00pm Council Meeting Kohia Centre 

1 March         12.30 - 2.00pm Luncheon and AGM Ellerslie Event Centre 

22 March       12.30 - 2.00pm Council Meeting Kohia Centre 

APPA Elections

Nominations open today for the 2023 APPA President, Vice President, and other executive positions.  I have greatly enjoyed my time as APPA Vice President and President over the last three years.  I have learned much, and the role has deepened my understanding of principal leadership and education.  Please follow the link to access a nomination form if you are interested in standing for  2023 APPA Executive positions.

Kyle Brewerton is standing for 2023 APPA President, we need nominations for Vice President.  Stephen King, Kevin Bush and Heath McNeil are seeking re-election in their roles of Treasurer, Business Partner Liaison and Secretary respectively.  Nominations close on the 10 February, with voting open from 15 February closing on the 23 February.   

Subscriptions and Membership

In the next couple of weeks we will email you information regarding membership.  Please keep an eye out so you can forward this to your admin team for payment, or here is the link https://www.registrations.appa.org.nz/.   You may also need to check and update your contact details.

There is great value in APPA membership and we want to see all principals signed up so they can take advantage of the strength of the APPA. Your local clusters are sub-groups of the APPA and representatives of each cluster form the APPA Council. For any subscription information or questions please contact Sue Green, our Executive Secretary  executivesecretary@appa.org.nz; 

The Year Ahead

It is going to be a big year, we need to pace ourselves.  This week Minister Tinetti indicated to me that she is in awe of us all.  And I did pass on to her that I am hoping that this sentiment is reflected in the Principals Employment negotiations.

Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa - let us keep close together, not far apart.

Wendy Kofoed

President

Tēnā tātou katoa 

Apologies that not everyone received the earlier special bulletin.

This copy also corrects the statement to be clear, that schools may be open for instruction, through the provision of remote teaching and learning.

Earlier today the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) asked us to take action to help minimise traffic movement on Auckland roads while vital infrastructure is urgently repaired.

With the possibility of further weather damage leading to more disruption, the Secretary for Education has directed that schools, kura, early learning services and Tertiary Organisations in the Auckland region (Wellsford to Pukekohe) to close for physical attendance and instruction until 7 Feb.

Schools and kura can open or remain open for instruction but need to do that through distance online learning.  As few staff as needed can be onsite to prepare for distance learning, and to oversee hostels if required. Tertiary organisations may also provide distance learning. 

Early Learning Services may allow the physical attendance of any child whose parent needs them to do so but must otherwise be closed.  Early learning services will continue to be funded.

Principals and education leaders have done a fantastic job of readying their schools for opening, and I know that this decision will be upsetting for some of them and for some parents. 

I know this is a late announcement that will cause disruption and I thank the sector in advance. We need to get Tamaki Makaurau back up and running as quickly as possible.

Ngā mihi

Iona Holsted

Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Mātauranga

Secretary for Education

Kia ora nga tumuaki,

As you will have heard and repeated below, the Secretary for Education has sent out a directive for schools and early childhood centres to close for the rest of the week. For some this will be great news and take the pressure off them and their boards in making that decision. For others, this may not be greeted with the same enthusiasm but we all need to play our part to ensure emergency management people can check the infrastructure across the whole of Auckland.

The Ministry has advised APPA that the email to school was bounced back from some schools. They apologise that not all schools received the email and they are working to rectify the problem. 

APPA wants to acknowledge Deidre Alderson, Tanya Harvey and their teams for their response over the weekend. They have been working with information coming in from multiple channels and advising principals accordingly. Ngā mihi Deidre and Tanya.

When the Minister and Secretary for Education briefed the executive this afternoon we were informed that schools were to close and of the belief that staff were only to be onsite if it was essential to keep traffic off the roads. In the email that has come out there is some confusion and I have asked Iona Holsted for clarity and I have been advised further clarification is coming tonight.

APPA is here for any principal who needs support. If you need assistance, your colleagues are here to help. The contact details for APPA Executive members are:

Ngā mihi,

Wendy Kofoed

Kia ora koutou

Earlier today the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) asked us to take action to help minimise traffic movement on Auckland roads while vital infrastructure is urgently repaired.

With the possibility of further weather damage leading to more disruption, the Secretary for Education has directed that schools, kura, early learning services and Tertiary institutions in the Auckland region (Wellsford to Pukekohe) must close for physical attendance and instruction until 7 Feb.

Schools and kura can open or remain open for onsite instruction but need to provide distance learning.

Early Learning Services may allow the physical attendance of any child whose parent needs them to do so,  in the same that we did for COVID, but must otherwise be closed.

Principals and education leaders have done a fantastic job of readying their schools for opening, and I know that this decision will be upsetting for some of them and for some parents.

NEMA will shortly be announcing this decision formally.

I know this is a late announcement that will cause disruption and I thank the sector in advance. We need to get Tamaki Makaurau back up and running as quickly as possible.
In terms of payments etc we will use the same approaches as with COVID.

Ngā mihi
Iona Holsted
Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Mātauranga
Secretary for Education

Our final meeting of the APPA Council for 2022 was held earlier this term.  Thank you to all of the 2022 representatives and presidents from across the Tāmaki Makaurau region who met with the Executive twice per term, some travelling considerable distance to attend. Your time in representing your Clusters' and Associations views is much appreciated. 

The Council is an important aspect of APPA.  It is a direct conduit from clusters and associations to the Executive, and vice versa, and as such ensures topical matters are discussed and debated with some vigor.  We thank Kyle Brewerton for his organisation of Council meetings in 2022. 

Kia ora ngā Tumuaki o Tāmaki Makaurau 

It is hard to believe that we are so close to the end of Term 4.  It has been another challenging year, with many demands on our time, energy and wellbeing.  I would like to acknowledge your mahi, the care you take of your students, staff, whānau and communities.  What you do matters, and every one of you make a difference.  The schools of Tāmaki Makaurau are fortunate to have such dedicated leaders. 

APPA have been lobbying for a Tāmaki Makaurau Principals Wellbeing Payment, as other regional associations have received this funding.  Please see below for information regarding a Tāmaki Makaurau Ministry of Education Principals' Wellbeing Fund.

The announcement from Minister Tinetti of a substantial system overhaul for the support of students with high learning needs is also welcome.  A business case and work programme are being scoped over the next six months, and in the short-term the Ministry of Education is strengthening the current model to make it quicker and simpler for learners and their whānau to get the support they need.  The APPA have lobbied strongly for system changes and will be monitoring this mahi closely, and  feeding in to the business case and work programme.  

The Refresh of New Zealand Curriculum is of concern to the Executive given the work demands we face in our schools currently.  The APPA Executive has repeatedly raised this matter with the Ministry and Minsters. While there are plenty of useful 'resources' to support the implementation of the Refresh there is no mention (as yet) of the 'resourcing' we need for this work, we will continue our lobbying in this regard.  

When thinking about your school's strategic planning for 2023, be mindful that we are not yet in a post-pandemic world.  There will be challenges in Auckland in 2023 around staffing, relievers, support of learners, wellbeing and...  When you (and your board) are planning for 2023, think through some of the challenges we faced in 2022, and whether these might be mitigated somewhat if they were to occur again. 

The 2023 year might be one where you entrench previous learning, being mindful not to overload the strategic plan with new initiatives.  Slow but steady wins the race. Your board will be keen to support the well-being of staff, including you, and will hopefully be supportive of a measured, steady and manageable pace in 2023.  

And, pace yourself over the next few weeks, draw on the strength of your team,  and over the holiday period have a very restful break from the complex demands of leading a school - Ma whero ma pango ka oti ai te mahi.  

Huge thanks to the APPA Executive, Council, Clusters and Associations, and to our wonderful Business Partners. Your work in 2022 is much appreciated by all.  

He honore, he kororia ki te atua he maungarongo ki te whenua he whakaaro pai ki nga tangata katoa.

Ngā mihi 

Wendy Kofoed

 President 

Our thoughts have been with those principals and their school communities who have suffered traumatic incidents this year, some quite recent.  Your work in supporting your students, staff, whānau and community takes a huge toll on your wellbeing, do reach out to your colleagues of if we can support you in any way.  

Thank you also to the MOE's Traumatic Incidents teams who work alongside principals and staff to manage these incidents and the aftermath, and in developing appropriate processes, communication and well-being support for all involved.  

Te Mahau has made a sum of money available to Auckland Principals to support their well being. APPA is supporting Te Mahau in the distribution of these funds.  

Stipends of $2000 are available for Principals to apply for. If you are interested in applying for a stipend to support your well being, please complete the brief application form below.

Please note, Principals who received the ‘Wellbeing support funding for first-time principals (May 2022) and private schools are not eligible for this fund.

The timeline is as follows: (Apologies for the abbreviated timeframe, but approval has only just been obtained for the distribution of these funds)

Closing Date: Dec 9
APPA to Review Apps: Dec 12
Awardees Announced: Dec 14

Funds will be distributed to successful applicants via Pourato in the new year.

Principal's Well Being Fund Application Form