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- President’s Report
- Out and About
- Gallop Inquiry
- Dr Phil Riley- Media Release
- Bushfire Strategy – Phoenix Conference
- Stewart House- YOUR Wellbeing MATTERS Term 4 2020
- NSWPPA State Executive Meeting – FIRST IN THE OFFICE
- Professional Learning
- Key Updates from the NSWPPA Executive
- From our sponsors
- And finally…..
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains,
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel – sea,
Her beauty and her terror,
The wide brown land for me!
Dorothea Mackellar
Today the sun came out. And for others, the rain keeps coming, the banks are breaking, the dams are spilling and the levies are bursting. Colleagues, families, communities and schools are facing an enormous task ahead – the big clean-up and recovery – long after the water subsides.
Grateful we are with the significant response from the Department. Services and support will be wrapped around colleagues most impacted and their schools will slowly return to normal following the recovery, repair and in some cases, rebuild. There are many stories of super human efforts and responses from many colleagues - praise from their communities has flowed.
Well, we are almost there - term 1 2021 is coming to a close. CONGRATULATIONS to you and your staff for the INCREDIBLE amount of time and effort invested in your four year Strategic Improvement Plan. It REALLY is time to take a breath – rest, recover and reset. Come Thursday afternoon, you MUST step away – close the doors on your school and give yourselves permission to focus on other parts of your life. YOUR wellbeing MATTERS. BE present with your family and friends
You and I both know there’s still the Annual Report to complete BUT it will happen. You have carried a superhuman load again this term. A rested mind is a sharp and focused mind.
m: 0429 547 619
cheers
rob
Robyn Evans
I have had great pleasure joining meetings via ZOOM and have been energised by the opportunity to meet in person. It is such a joy to walk into a room and feel the energy between colleagues. It’s a celebration being back together. If you noticed a colleague missing in the room at your PPC Meeting, please prioritise a call to reach out to them. Every one of us has ‘stuff going on‘ in our lives. It is such a bright spot to know that people actually care about how we are travelling.
Bek Zadow | Teaching Principals RG Chair, Danny Scott | Queanbeyan PPC President and I joined the Queanbeyan Small Schools Conference in a ‘Fireside Chat’ with an amazing group of colleagues. Strong connections and collective wisdom solving site specific concerns. A great initiative from the DEL’s and PSL’s in the area.
Attending Liverpool PPC, Queanbeyan PPC, Wollongong PPC and Hornsby PPC in person and via zoom this term, has been a highlight. Congratulations to the PPC Executive and their membership. High quality discussion and engagement. Delegates in your PPC are the conduit to the Association. Key to communication is the Contact person in your PPC for the Reference Groups. Reporting back to your Council with point in time information ensures everyone has current and important information for their school.
I’m looking forward to joining you next term at your PPC Meetings!
Dr David Gallop and Angelo Gavrielatos first shared the inquiries findings at the NSW Teachers Federation Council Meeting on Saturday 20 February. David and Angelo have since completed their road trip to regional areas sharing the findings of the inquiry.
Last week I attended a Ministers Reception at Government House in Sydney where Education Minister Sarah Mitchell hosted the event. We KNOW what the findings are: it is now time to RESET and ACTION the findings. Along with NSWTF, both the SPC President Craig Petersen and I will continue to hold the Department accountable for actioning steps forward to address the issue of workload, staffing and equity. Our Executive Liaisons, Chairpersons and the membership are holding insistent we move forward on these recommendations.
In preparation of the release of The Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety and wellbeing Survey 2020, I prepared this media release. Some of it was picked up by local journalists. As an Executive we are often called to comment and represent the thoughts and aspirations of the NSWPPA Membership. We are strongly committed to highlighting the number one priority we have: - Principal Wellbeing.
Bushfire Strategy – Phoenix Conference
The Bushfire Strategy led by ED Kathy Powzun and Principals in Residence Mark Thomson and Sue French has been key in supporting, advising and liaising with our colleague Principals in bushfire ravaged areas across NSW. This strategy has ensured a focus on our colleagues and their community as well as infrastructure and has paved the way for the road to recovery. Healing from trauma takes time and whilst the bushland and grasses are springing back to life the personal and psychological toll such trauma has on people is far reaching. Students, staff, communities and their school Principals have demonstrated such resilience, courage and grit in moving forward. This Conference for the Principal and another member of their team will be an opportunity to connect with colleagues and celebrate how for their communities have come. Rich Professional Learning and Key Note Speakers will present at the ICC Sydney 28-29 April 2021. The NSWPPA Executive and I are looking forward to joining our colleagues at the Phoenix Conference for a session in Week 2.
Stewart House- YOUR Wellbeing MATTERS Term 4 2020
It was such a privilege to join Steve Smith Principal Stewart House at his school to present the $7500 raised by those of you who joined the NSWPPA Professional Learning last year in term 4. ‘Your Wellbeing Matters’ The $20 registration fee went directly to Stewart House. Dr Adam Fraser, his wife Christine Armarego, Bob Willetts and I spent time on site exploring the outstanding facilities for the students across NSW to visit. This facility is brilliant! It is a vibrant and energised space. Students staying at Stewart House have access to dentistry, medical and optical services. AND now, a fabulous hairdressing service. I ask you to access the Stewart House video – either at your PPC Meeting or from your PPC delegate. Salary deductions from all DoE employees contributes to the running of the operations at Stewart House. I encourage you to contribute. There is no greater cause.
NSWPPA State Executive Meeting – FIRST IN THE OFFICE
Last week we had the first meeting of the NSWPPA IN THE NEW OFFICE. The NSWPPA State Executive met to discuss business arising from State Council, action issues forward and plan for term 2.
Key Updates from the NSWPPA Executive
ACARA Responds to MYSCHOOL report | Deputy President Bob Willetts
The NSWPPA have long advocated for NAPLAN data to be removed from MYSCHOOL website and recent media reports suggested this had been done.
However, ACARA subsequently responded with clarification.
It is always worth checking your MySchool data to review the publicly available information.
The full report is below.
ACARA news, March 2021
ACARA responds to News Corp's false articles
18 March 2021
An article in News Corp papers today incorrectly states there have been changes to the My School website that prevent parents from comparing school performances on NAPLAN.
That is not the case and has never been the case.
Parents have always been able, and still are able, to compare school performance on NAPLAN on the website.
Changes to the My School website that help parents better understand the NAPLAN data displays were made over 12 months ago and there are no 'new bans' as claimed in the article. ACARA issued a media release at the time and the changes were covered in the media in March 2020.
Parents can access My School NAPLAN data for comparisons and an additional measure of student progress using NAPLAN data was added in March 2020. This change gives greater focus to progress rather than on statistically similar schools and is presented in a way that is fair and easy to understand.
The amendments to the data presentations were agreed by all Australia's education ministers in December 2019, following a comprehensive review of the way NAPLAN data is presented on My School conducted by Emeritus Professor Bill Louden.
They were subject to extensive consultation with stakeholders, statistical experts and parent focus groups and were welcomed particularly by parents.
The March 2020 media release on the changes to the My School website clearly states the reasons for the change as well as the broad support from the parent community.
ACARA was not given the opportunity to reply to the inaccurate claims that parents are prevented from comparing school performances on the My School website.
Media contact: 0414 063 872, media.contact@acara.edu.au
ACARA announced this week that NAPLAN
Warm regards,
Bob
Principal Induction Conference via Zoom | Vice President Jude Hayman
Former NSWPPA Vice-President, Lyn Davis is currently working with the DoE School Leadership Institute and recently coordinated the Principal Induction Conference. We were able to assist Lyn by inviting, through our Reference Group, Standing Committee and Working Party Chairs, a large number of our members from a broad range of contexts to act as facilitators.
President Robyn Evans and executive members presented information about the PPA structure and priorities, we also emphasised the strengths of connecting with colleagues and building these connections by attending PPC meetings. We encourage our members to make contact with new Principals to ensure they understand the benefits of PPA membership.
Thank you to all the Principals who dedicated the time to support and guide new Principals and congratulations to Lyn and the School Leadership Institute for organising a fabulous conference.
Warm regards,
Jude
HPG with Disability Survey| Vice President Norma Petrocco
Australian research is being undertaken on high potential students with disability. By completing this survey, you will benefit from insights into your students' learning needs, along with expert support and advice on how to meet those needs. The survey closing date has been extended to 14 May.
Please see the attached links for further information and links to the survey.
Warm regards,
Norma
Mandatory Training for Schools| Vice President Trish Peters
The attached link below, shows the complete list of mandatory training. The information shows that it is mandatory for teaching and school-based staff to complete the training as per the schedule and that the mandatory training for schools only requires for the principal to schedule CPR and anaphylaxis component but not mandatory that everyone does it. The Code of Conduct training now has an expiry date of 31/12 for every person so everyone is required to re-do early in the school year.
Student Wellbeing Reference Group| Vice President Trish Peters
If you require urgent support for complex and challenging contact your DEL - see attached flowchart.
Hot off the Press – State Conference Information | Chairperson State Conference Standing Committee Kylie Donovan
Book your ACCOMMODATION at THE STAR SYDNEY for the 2021 NSWPPA State Conferences 21-23 October 2021 using this code: NSW181021.
Call (02) 9777 9000 for all enquiries or you can book online at
Sentral
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The Sentral suite draws on a range of powerful Microsoft technologies, which are continually updated and innovated. Read our latest blog to find out how Sentral and Microsoft work smarter together:
On behalf of the NSWPPA Executive – Rob Walker, Bob Willetts, Michael Burgess, Jude Hayman, Trish Peters, Norma Petrocco, Michael Trist, Stuart Wylie, Greg McLaren, Gregory Grinham, Mark Pritchard, Lisa Beare and Margaret Charlton I wish you all a fabulous week 10 – reach out and check in on someone you haven’t caught up with this term. Take the time to celebrate the term you have had and all you have achieved. And, when we get to Friday, have a well-deserved break!
Robyn Evans
NSWPPA President