July 2021 Newsletter
Kia Ora Awesome School Leaders!
Halfway through the year already! It has been amazing to see how schools around the region have celebrated Matariki. Our children are really fortunate to have schools and teachers who help to create life long memories.
We have a few items to share in this update around our APPA Council work, as well as news of our Term 3 luncheon. One aspect of school that should be at the top of our list is the Curriculum Refresh.
Curriculum Refresh
Thanks to all our principals who attended the Curriculum Refresh Roadshow. A lot of infomration was shared as well as a lot of thoughts on curriculum development. It is important to see this as a refresh - not a rewrite. The timeline looks pretty intense and a key message to the Ministry team centred around ensuring schools and teachers had enough space and time to engage with change.
It was great to be talking about curriculum - something we all need to do more of. So please keep the dialogue going in your clusters so that we can hear about the impact of this refresh on your schools.
Thank you to those schools who hosted the roadshows. As promised here are the notes from the Ministry.
The Curriculum Advisory Group is still to be formed - it was to be announced in early May after expressions of interest closed in April - we are in July! According to the Ministry - "The Curriculum Advisory Group (CAG) will help to strengthen the Ministry's national curriculum leadership by providing expert advice on the direction for the curriculum work programme." It seems that a lot of work has happened without the "expert advice from academics and practitioners" in the CAG. However the Curriculum Voices group has convened. If you are a member of the Curriculum Voices Group or you hear that you have been appointed to the Curriculum Advisory Group please let us know.
Take time to recharge
The next couple of weeks are for you to recharge your batteries - we don't get company cars, boxes at the tennis, and we don't get corporate bonuses. We do get non-contact time - yes work needs to happen BUT be flexible about how you do that. Teaching and leading is a high energy job, take some you time - that is our perk of the job.
Have a great break with those you love and care for.
Stephen Lethbridge
President
The Work of the APPA Council (17.6.21)
Within the APPA Council (made up of representatives from all Auckland Principals' Clusters) there are currently four work groups, each with a focus pertinent to APPA priorities and the NELPs. These groups cover Curriculum Review NELP 6, Progress and Achievement NELP 6, Teacher Supply, Learning Support.
The Council was joined by an additional member form each cluster - this is a great way to include other principals in the work of the council and gives them an insight into the role of a Cluster Representative on the APPA Council.
Recent discussion of the work groups included:
Curriculum Review
- Curriculum Review work programme & advisory groups ref groups timeline unrealistic in terms of principal wellbeing
- Unclear of principal involvement in these groups
- NZPF Roadshow Principals Curriculum Update Meetings Underway with Perry and Kaylene. Central Meeting held 9/6/2, with two further Roadshow meetings 25/6 (East South), and 7/7 (North West).
- Worry about principal and staff wellbeing in pace of implementation.
- Where is local curriculum mentioned in the timeline?
Progress and Achievement and Records of Learning
- RECORD OF LEARNING - digital progress maps. Alongside the curriculum refresh, Ministry staff are working with the sector to develop a holistic record of learning that travels with tamariki and shows how they are making progress, their strengths and where support is needed. This record will be collaboratively generated by tamariki, whānau and educators.
- Years and Curriculum levels describe the expectation of learners but these are not underpinned by progression, therefore possible lack of clarity about meaning of levels/curriculum levels. Development of a holistic curriculum progression framework, with curriculum levels becoming phases of learning.
- PACT being developed for other curriculum areas
- Challenge of the diversity of records of learning currently used by schools.
- Legislation would need to change as currently need 2 written reports annually (many schools doing this digitally)
- Learner-friendly language to support partnerships with whānau.
- Sector differences - relevant when secondary are part of Kahui Ako and pathways
- Assessment at Year 9 (Literacy and Numeracy)- what implications does this have primary and intermediate progress mapping
Teacher Supply Resourcing and Capacity
- ITE needs to be the focus, as quantity and quality are the key issues.
- Can’t be addressed short term. Might get worse in the long term as young teachers go overseas once COVID settles down.
- Campaigns to attract trainees are currently not sufficient. We need to get more good stories out there, to raise the mana and status of teachers. need more advertising using popular role models to show that teachers make a difference.
- Need to address the training of teachers. One year is not enough to give enough input into the different curriculum areas. two years should be the minimum.
- How will Teacher Ed change with Techs coming together? Will there be consistency?
Learning Support (Key concerns)
- Funding is difficult to access
- Well Being based on supporting with LS - Principal, teachers & support staff
- Complexity of Needs
- Volume of LS students
- Shortage of specialised personnel
- Lack of LSCs
- Complexity of issues across the city
- Wait time for support
- Why is the review scheduled to take 18 months
- Where is the National LS database?
Please utilise cluster reps as a conduit to this mahi, feedback from our membership is much appreciated.
Dr Wendy Kofoed
Vice President APPA
Our Term Two Luncheon had a large turnout - the chance to listen to Perry Rush and Liam Rutherford was well receveived
We hope you can join us for our Term Three Luncheon.
When: Wednesday 18 August 12:15 - 2:15pm
Where: Ellerslie Event Centre
Speaker: Nigel Latta
Nigel trained as a Clinical Psychologist and worked for over two decades in the areas of forensic psychology and family therapy.
In 2010, as a result of his passion for science and science education, Nigel was invited to become an associate of the world leading Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study at the University of Otago. In 2012 he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to psychology.
He’s written eight books which have now been published in 19 countries and 10 languages.
His television career has spanned almost a decade and he’s presented a number of series including Beyond the Darklands, The Politically Incorrect Parenting Show, On Thin Ice: Nigel Latta in Antarctica, and The Hard Stuff. In 2016, along with Arwen O’Connor and Mitchell Hawkes he co-founded a production company, Ruckus, and the team have since made numerous primetime television series including Mind Over Money, What Next, and The Curious Mind. In 2018 Ruckus was named New Zealand’s Hottest Production Company in the StopPress awards.
In late 2018, having decided it was time for something a bit different, Nigel and his partner Neela Hatangadi co-founded a tech startup to build a revolutionary parenting app.
Administration
When you signed up for membership at the start of the year you would probably have pre-paid for the lunches. That means we will assume you are coming. If circumstances change, or you are bringing a guest, please let Sue Green know. If you didn't sign up - you need to let Sue Green know as well - you don't want to miss the food and dialogue!
Nigel is a major drawcard and will speak for an hour - make sure you arrive in plenty of time as we will serve lunch earlier than normal.
3 Day Instrumental Course Registration
The registrations are now live for the 3 day course - please pass this information on to your music teachers so the students and parents can register.