2023 Term 1 APPA Newsletter

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