What's Hot February

President’s Report

Good afternoon colleagues.

Four weeks in and we are all into the rhythm of 2024. And what a start it has been… there is certainly a great feel and a plethora of good news stories from the field with schools, principals, staff, and students being showcased.

 The ‘promise’ of public education is actually tangible in our schools. Great stories the successful start for kindergarten 2024… the energy and excitement as students across NSW start school … not too many years ago, our lived experience through covid was a very different one for the kindergarten students stepping into our schools for the first time.

I am conscious we are all off to a terrific start and our goal remains to be finishing week 11 with the same energy we have started with. Today I was speaking to a colleague who swam daily with her sister, and THEY have continued to do so as the term gets underway. By focusing on YOU as an EVERYDAY priority the habit of self-care becomes embedded. This in turn becomes a model your staff emulates. The ‘Staff Wellbeing Strategy’ is our business – Our Plan for NSW Public Schools speaks to it. WE must model it and adhere to setting boundaries for ourselves. Wellness and sustainability in our role leads to a flourishing principal workforce.

The importance of attending your Primary Principals’ Council meeting each term is also not only an incredible source of information and an opportunity to feed forward information, it is also the perfect forum to connect with our colleagues. Please prioritise these meetings on your calendar each term. Connecting with your colleagues is one of the ABSOLUTE musts … we thrive collectively – socially and professionally. The Executive and I are looking forward to seeing you in the room at many of the PPC meetings this year.

In Schools

This term too has started with some challenges for a number of our colleagues … with accidents and sadness for families in our communities. It NEVER ceases to amaze me when I am contacted by the Deputy Secretary’s Office, and I reach out to colleagues touched by this. THE absolute ‘above and beyond’ responsive action the principal and their teams make to ensure families, students and staff are supported. It is that layer of leadership that takes new heights. The empathy and genuine care these affected colleagues have provided to these families is just next level. People never forget how you make them feel – particularly at a time of loss.

At the same time, I have been in awe of the cohesive and collective community response by the Broken Hill community to the potential health hazard with mould at Willyama HS, Broken Hill HS, Morgan Street PS and Broken Hill North PS have exemplified the meaning of community. In the week leading up to returning to school for these colleagues, the Department responded with resourcing and personnel on the ground and the principals collectively united to ensure the learning of the students, as well as their health and safety, along with that of the staff was prioritised. What a logistical and strategic manoeuvre led by the Department, DEL Peter McBeth and ED Dean White.  Can I recognise our colleagues Scott Sanford (MSPS) and Angela Sampson (BHNPS) who have without hesitation stepped in to share their sites with their secondary colleagues and students for this term and perhaps beyond.. just for a minute, pause to think of how they, along with their incredible staff have set up to ensure every child and staff member in that community is prioritised. A real show of community – a community prioritising the safety, wellbeing and learning of students and colleagues. There is a long road ahead in this space and like all large scale responses there will be bumps in the road ahead. Communication and resourcing remain the pillars on which this arrangement will be addressed and supported.

The media has been lit up with the daily stream of news reports about ‘asbestos’. Notably Liverpool West PS Principal Lucy Martin who has managed her school community and are now on site at Gulyangarri PS with Principal Ian Tapuska. Thank you both for the magnificent collaboration in ensuring teaching and learning remains the priority. Other school sites have been identified and specific areas have been managed in order to keep students, staff and the community safe whilst being removed. Our Secretary | Murat Dizdar, came out strongly in supporting the precautionary response and prioritising health safety and wellbeing.

The business of the Association

Since Week 2, Reference Groups, Standing Committees and Working Parties have been meeting either in at the office or at other venues. Talk about focusing on the business of the Association!!!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you – understanding the way and the how we operate as an association is key to the impact we have and the action we collectively move forward on. A special mention to the HPGE | OC Standing Committee who had their very first meeting – Chairperson Jono Coombes | Principal Artarmon PS and Executive Liaison Norma Petrocco. Such a vibrant and focused group.

Last week at the two day NSWPPA Executive Meeting we sat back as we rounded off the two days work and reflected on EXACTLY what we are across and how deeply we are engaged, sought out, and, focused on the right work. Partnering is EVERYTHING. Thank you to our Chairpersons and every member of the Reference Groups, Standing Committees and Working Parties – YOU are key to the operationalisation of the business of the Association. The lens you bring to the table matters to every member of the Association.

Work of the NSWPPA State Executive the past 4 weeks…

The State Executive cover an incredible range of work streams – I have just captured some key work over the past four weeks: -

Invitation to respond to the: Anti Racism Policy | SLSP | WH&S death of a student/community member procedures | Executive Teaching Time weekly meetings and updates| Staff Wellbeing Service Delivery | NAPLAN School Readiness | NSW Public Schools Summit | Back to School Event | AI Working Group | Meeting with Secretary Murat Dizdar | Anxiety Project Leadership Team Meetings | School Excellence SEF v3 and EV | National voice AGPPA SRS | joint response  SPC and NSWTF on SRS | recruitment panels | RG WP and SC meetings | NSWPPA State Executive Meeting | Reference Groups Standing Committees and Working Parties | NSW PPA Priorities | Executive and Chairpersons collaboration | update NSWPPA Operational guidelines | NSWPPA State Council planning |PreEMM Meeting | and we have an upcoming NSWPPA Executive Meeting with Deputy Premier Prue Car ..

NSWPPA State Council Term 1 Week 6 and PPC Meetings that follow

The first State Council meeting is always one of significance - The Executive, Chairpersons, Observers and Delegates warmly invite the forty three PPC Presidents to join us. At this meeting we focus very much the business of the Association – underpinned by the culture and purpose. The WHY and the HOW and the responsibility and action that comes with that. We have many newly elected Delegates and Presidents attending. The NSWPPA website has a ‘role description’ for these positions and are readily accessible for you. The Executive will facilitate sessions specifically for these roles for all present in Week 6

Last year at your AGM (for some the AGM is early this term) your PPC identified the CONTACT people for Reference Groups and Standing Committees and Working Parties (where relevant). This role is integral in the chain of communication. ALL reports are available on the website after EVERY State Council Meeting. Many of our Chairpersons hold follow up information forums to unpack the work of the group you are the contact for. You are encouraged to email/make contact with the relevant regional representative or directly email the Chairperson for clarity. Communication is key to ensuring the voice of the principalship across the state is being heard.

Building on communication, I champion you to be in the room and engage in your PPC meetings. The President of your PPC communicates important PPC dates and events with your respective DEL. We encourage as best practice is when you attend any PPC/PPA meetings that you email your DEL and let them know the business and work you are undertaking and WHO is relieving for you. They can be confident too that you will be available at all times to take a call and address school issues as they arise. A Blanket Authority is currently being sought and will be made available to Delegates, Presidents, Chairpersons and the NSWPPPA Executive to attend NSWPPA business. I ask you share it with your DEL’s in your role as required. Executive Officer Mark Pritchard will make the BAT available.

Thank you too to the Presidents who have been liaising with their regional colleagues to recommend and put forward colleagues to fill vacancies on Reference Groups. The voting delegates at State Council will duly endorse the recommendations. This is Constitutional process.

Looking forward to our first State Council Meeting for 2024.

Welcome to the Principalship

We warmly welcome these colleagues to the Principalship - a noble and rewarding profession – such a privilege to lead a school through the successes and celebrations as well as through periods such as these. Together with our staff, students and communities we lean on our colleagues and share in our next steps. Please know there is much support available to our early career principals including your mentor, Principal School Leadership, Primary Principal Council Executive and colleagues as well as the NSWPPA Executive and Professional Support Officers – Lyn Davis 0417 465 652, Geoff Scott 0427 451 359 and Phil Seymour 0412 673 378. I am also available at the end of the phone anytime, email or text 0429 547 619.

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome – your communities are very fortunate to have you. Remember to update your details on the NSWPPA website so your contact details are accurate and you are contactable.

Principal Wellness and NSWPPA Support

Our Plan for NSW Public Education shines the light on the Staff Wellbeing Strategy and subsequent implementation. This work as we know is key to a rich, productive and highly engaged workforce.

We are currently being consulted by the team working on this significant piece of work. As an Association there is much we can offer in this area. Our Principal Support Reference Group Chairperson |Grace Palamara and Executive Liaison | Bob Willetts are integral to this work in terms of advocating for the right implementation and resourcing for the strategy. We intend to get closer to this work being led by the Education Support Team – our experience in other significant pieces of work is the closer we are the more positively it lands in our schools.  You also know the priority this has for the Association and the principalship specifically. Strong, sustainable leadership is our goal and the conditions in which we do that. This is a significant reform for us to be close to.

The NSWPPA number one priority is Principal Wellbeing and sustainable leadership. Our professional learning reflects this as does the work we do in this area. We are focused on proactive support and strong voice from the principalship to shape policy, procedure and practice. We also employ three Professional Support Officers who are available for you to access to see clarity and advice when managing high level issues. They are also there to support you through complexities arising from complaints and PES. Navigating such issues can be confronting. Geoff, Phil and Lyn work with you in the strictest of confidence. They have access to our Education Support colleagues across the Department and reach out to ensure the best possible advice is wrapped around principals individually at point of need. Please reach out EARLY to our PSO’s. Please take up the support and guidance they can offer you through the NSWPPA.

Remember too, your network of colleagues is a great source of support as is the PPC Executive in your area. Our PSO’s are there for you to walk with you on escalating and complex issues.

Contact details for our Professional Support Officers
Geoff Scott: 0427 451 359
Phil Seymour: 0412 673 378
Lyn Davis: 0417 465 652

NSW Public Preschools – Announcement

This week Deputy Premier | Prue Car and Acting Deputy Secretary Early Childhood Outcomes | Mark Barraket, made the announcement from Fairfield West PS | Principal Genelle Goldfinch about the 100 Public Preschools - regional, rural, remote and metropolitan. Nine of these sites are new builds, three are major upgrades and eighty eight are existing sites. Exciting times ahead for their communities. Many questions are being fielded currently and the upcoming webinar should address these and the next steps for these schools. Please note that both the Early Childhood Working Party and the New Build Rebuild Standing Committee will be a great source of contact through the Association.

Public Education Week - Proud to Belong | Term 3, Week 3 - 5-9 August

The Communication and Engagement Standing Committee Chairperson | Ben Carter and the SC members along with Executive Liaison | Rob Walker are collectively working incredibly closely and effectively with the Communications teams of the Department and have been working in this space too as part of their Standing Committee role. From 2024, Education Week will be known as ‘Public Education Week’. Schools can start to incorporate the theme of Public Education Week into plans for events and projects.

Honouring the past and leading for the future…

I share with you a photo that was found during the archiving process we have undertaken. This is a photograph of the first elected NSWPPA Executive in 1981 – President|Bernie Gregory. Some may well recollect a number of faces. Forty three years on, the NSWPPA Executive lead the Association into 2024 with clarity, strength, optimism. Our commitment to action through authentic collaboration and codesign is evident. The work of the Association reflects the culture we all thrive under and the focus on the values and priorities we uphold.

I honour this first Executive and their extended Executive in the Chairpersons and Delegates of 1981. There have been subsequent iterations of Executive since then. Each Executive member, along with the extended Executive in Chairpersons, Delegates and PPC Executive have shaped the rich tapestry of the NSWPPA and its profile and commitment to serve the principalship of NSW.

The Executive of 2024 are strongly committed to the business of the Association and are incredibly proud of the ever evolving richness of the culture in which we operate. The Executive lead this Association on the shoulders of the giants that led before us. The faces change, the legacy lives and the business of the Association continues – the NSW Principalship is at the heart of what we do – our Principals lead their schools with their staff for the future of every single student in NSW Public Schools. There is MUCH to do this year – and we are invested and committed to working collaboratively with all partners as we move forward together and lead into the future.

ConnectED May 22-24

ConnectED's organising committee are pleased to advise that ConnectED 24 is open for registration.

Information:

• Presenters are Professor Pak Tee NG, Professor Tracy Vaillancourt, Dr Lyn Sharratt, and Dr Jana Pittman.
• ConnectED has been able to significantly subsidise and/or reduce registration costs for 2024.
• 2024 School and System Leader per day registrations are $200 + GST ($220 inclusive) – reduced from 2023.
• 2024 Conference Dinner registrations are $125 + GST ($137.50 inclusive).
• 2024 Middle Leader per day registrations are $175 + GST ($192.50) - continued subsidy.
• Schools and DoE Business units should consider bulk registration of all middle, senior and system leader delegates via PCard/PO to minimise registration fees.
• Registration fees are $14 per individual registration - Please contact 02 9524 3087 or helpline@vmsconferences.com.au to arrange bulk registrations and reduce costs.
• PCard transactions will attract a 1.75% levy.

For further information, please access the following websites:

1. ConnectED 24 Middle Leaders - Wednesday 22nd May, 2024
2. ConnectED 24 School & System Leaders - Thursday-Friday, 23rd-24th May, 2024
3. ConnectED 24 Resources/Sponsors - for all 2024 and access to 2015-2023 resources
4. ConnectED 24 Registration page - regodirect.com.au (VMS conferences)

The ConnectED team looks forward to world-class, professional learning with you.

Public School Funding - You can help!

Hello,

Welcome back to a new school year. We’re excited for 2024 and wanted to share one of our major priorities with you. As you may be aware, public school funding is a significant issue facing students, parents, teachers and schools.

Currently 98% of public schools do not receive their full funding requirements under the minimums set by the School Resourcing Standard (SRS).

The P&C Federation – the Federation of all public school P&C Associations in NSW including your own - is strongly committed to championing a commitment from NSW and Federal governments to meet the full School Resourcing Standard (SRS) for our public schools.

Full funding means

• New and upgraded facilities and technology
• More teachers and smaller class sizes
• Intensive support and assistance for children with additional needs
• Programs for students falling behind to help them to succeed
• Improved student wellbeing with more resources
• One on one support for students

You can help!

We have launched a petition on our P&C Federation website, it takes less than a minute to sign and will be a great help as we work to advocate for public schools in NSW.

P&C Federation Team 

Vale | William (Bill) Martin

This week we heard from Bill’s family. We extend our deepest condolences to his loving wife Carol and his children David, Kate and Ben and their families. Bill was the Principal of Padstow Park Primary School in the 1990s and William Stimson Primary School in the late 90s / early 2000s. They are a family of public school teachers. Carol was a teacher, as was Bill’s son, daughter and granddaughter. Two of Bill’s other grandchildren are currently studying to be teachers at the moment!

Bill was an inspiration to his family, just as he was to the teachers he led and taught with, and to the children at the schools where he worked. 

He started his teaching in 1966. Tooma PS, Ashcroft PS, Como West PS, Peakhurst West PS, Laguna Street PS (Principal), Padstow Park PS (Principal), William Stimson PS (Principal),

40 years (20 years as a Principal)

Casual Timesheet Change | Vice President Michael Burgess

Casual Timesheet Change to allow for more Accurate Budgeting (VP Michael Burgess)

A change to timesheets will allow schools to select a new reason code (00), on the casual timesheet, as a way of specifying that casual hours are being used for entitlement backfill. In the background, those hours will be attributed to the Entitlement FTE budget.  This update takes financial reporting – particularly the school budget dashboard – to a new level of accuracy.  It puts schools in a position to rely on the dashboard with high confidence, as they monitor their available FTE and their available flexible funds during 2024.

A new dashboard indicator – FTE Value of Casuals Backfilling Entitlement – will show schools the FTE value of the casuals they have engaged to backfill entitlement positions in the year to date. Note that the value shown on the ‘FTE Available’ indicator will continuously update to reflect the use of schools’ FTE allocation, casuals included.

Expense 8 Carousl View | Vice President Michael Burgess

If you are an Expense 8 viewer using the Carousel View allows you to see all information on one screen reducing the number of clicks needed. Thank you to the Finance & Admin team for their work in contributing to the development of the new tool.

AssessedIT | Vice President Michael Burgess

A new application you can add to your portal page is AssessdIT. This application allows you to view third party applications that have been assessed by the DoE team. It also allows you to general a consent form tailored for your school.

Student Wellbeing Government Funding Boost | Vice President Michael Burgess

This is a one-off payment to be spent or committed by 31^st March.

The allocation for the Student Wellbeing Boost program must be spent or committed by 31 March from 6200 ‘# not assigned’. 

Family Court Orders | Vice President Greg McLaren

Parents are responsible for providing the school with a copy of any court orders that impact on the relationship between the family and the school. A copy of orders should be sought from parents at the time a child enrols in a school and parents should be reminded on a regular basis of the importance of providing the school with a copy of any new or amended orders. Further information can be obtained via Family law guidelines (nsw.gov.au)

Fundamental principles underpinning the Department’s response to family law matters that impact on the school:

1. We as Principals should make decisions about family law issues based on:
2. the educational interests, safety and welfare of the child being the paramount consideration; and
3. as far as is possible, the effective and efficient operation of the school.
4. School is not the place for family disputes to be resolved. Nor should school staff resolve such issues.
5. For students who are facing difficult family circumstances, school should be a safe haven into which family problems do not intrude.
6. Generally, in the absence of court orders to the contrary, both parents will be expected to be involved in any decisions made concerning major long-term issues impacting on schooling.
7. Parents have the responsibility to provide the school with copies of any court orders that impact on the relationship between the family and school.

Some Helpful Hints About Enrolment

1. Sometimes parents cannot agree about the school at which their child is to be enrolled. The Department’s primary focus is to enable children of compulsory school age to be enrolled at and attend a school or register for home schooling.
2. If we as Principals are unaware of any dispute between the parents regarding enrolment action should proceed to accept the enrolment in accordance with the enrolment policy.
3. If it is known a dispute exists and:
4. the child is already enrolled in a government school, we as Principals should utilise the short term and part time attendance provisions of the enrolment policy to enable the child to attend school while attempts are made by their parents to resolve the dispute.
5. the child is not currently enrolled in a government school, the child is to be enrolled in the school chosen by the parent with whom the child is living.
6. In both (a) and (b) above enrolment should proceed in accordance with the enrolment policy.

When in doubt please contact Legal Services – using the link on the home page ‘request legal advice’ @ Legal Services (nsw.gov.au)

Compiled by Greg McLaren, contributor DoE Legal Services

Sharing Parent and Student Information | Vice President Greg McLaren

Parent & Citizen Associations (the P&C) and other good intentioned community groups often ask schools for the names and contact details of parents who are new to the school during Term 1.

It is also common at this time of year for a parent of a child in primary school to establish a contact list for the parents of other children in their child’s class.

If the school provides this information to the P&C or the ‘class parent’ it is a disclosure for the purposes of privacy legislation.

The name and contact details of a parent should only be disclosed to the P&C or a ‘class parent’ with their consent.

It is important to check what the parent has consented to as some parents may be agreeable to their name and email address being disclosed but refuse to consent to their telephone number being provided to any other person and act consistently with that consent.

An effective practice is for the P&C to directly obtain contact details via a parent information session or a ‘meet the teacher’ session. At these events P&C members can provide an opportunity for parents to share their details. This can be via pen and paper or QR code.

The school should be removed from any perception of sharing parent information to other parents or groups.

When in doubt please contact Legal Services – using the link on the home page ‘request legal advice’ @ Legal Services (nsw.gov.au)

Compiled by Greg McLaren, contributor DoE Legal Services

Photos, Permission to Publish and Social Media Considerations | Vice President Greg McLaren

Photographs of Students - School Staff

Can staff photograph students using their own devices such as mobile phones, tablets or cameras? There may be some limited circumstances where the publication by an employee in their private capacity is lawful. This general advice should not be construed as criticising any particular situation, or individual who has done so. Each case would turn on its own unique facts.

For example, general advice to school staff is to not publish in a private capacity a photo of a student, or other personal information about the student whilst obtained in the course of their employment.

This issue is covered in section 9 of the Code of Conduct.

9.6.2 Personal devices: When using a personal device for work, you must:

• not store unauthorised images of students.

Other relevant provisions are:

• As a departmental employee, you must only use official information for the work-related purpose it was intended.
• Unless authorised to do so by legislation, you must not disclose or use any confidential information without appropriate approval.
• You must make sure that confidential information, in any form, cannot be accessed by unauthorised people. 

The word "disclose" has a broad meaning and would include making available to the public on social media platforms.

The term "confidential information" suggests a view likely to capture the name of a student and the school in which the student is enrolled.

The Department has a number of polices that address concerns about publishing identifiable photos and personal information online. Both the Privacy Management Plan and Schools Collection Notice outline how schools collect and use student information, and the rights of parents to decide how this information is used.

Permission to Publish

As the new school year commences it is an appropriate time to view and action the Department’s Permission to Publish. The second link is information in languages other than English. Permission to publish (nsw.gov.au)   General permission to publish and disclose information (nsw.gov.au)

We must obtain parent and guardian consent when student information is published or disclosed via:

• Public websites of the Department of Education including the school website, the Department of Education intranet (staff only), blogs and wikis;
• Department of Education publications including the school newsletter, annual school magazine and school report, promotional material published in print and electronically including on the Department’s websites;
• Official Department and school social media accounts on networks such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter;
• Local and metropolitan newspapers and magazines and other media outlets.

Publication with an audience beyond the school community

Arriving back to this article’s original question, where student personal information is to be broadcast widely in print or electronic media or used in promotional material about the Department the student and/or parent/carer consent should be obtained for the specific purpose. The consent should be accompanied by a privacy collection notice informing students and/or parents/carers of:

• the purpose for which the information is being collected and how it will be used
• the intended recipients, i.e. where it will be displayed, broadcast etc
• whether students must participate and any adverse consequences if not participating
• how the information will be stored
• who to contact to access the information.

Where a third party such as a media outlet is to film or collect any form of student personal information, schools must obtain parent or carer consent and review the third party’s privacy collection notice.

Social Media Policy

2.4.7 When personal devices such as mobile phones or cameras are used to take photos of students for social media purposes, please delete said photos from the device within one week from the time of uploading. Do not store photos of students on your personal device.

5.3 Employees must not post images, video and/or any identifying information about students or department staff unless it is through an official department social media account in accordance with the procedures for posting on official accounts.

Tagging or naming student photos

Photos of students can only be published if the correct Department of Education permission to publish forms have been completed by the student’s parent or guardian. The photo must be removed after one year of publishing unless further permission from the parent is sought. For privacy and protection, please do not tag photos of children, and please do not name them in your comments, unless the previously mentioned permissions are sought. On rare occasions and with parental permission, students may be named by the school Facebook administration team. Tagging of parents or friends within the comment box is permitted with the understanding that all other rules of engagement are followed.

10.7 Communication and content shared between teachers and students should directly relate to an agreed educational purpose and not be personal in nature.
11.2 Teachers should act on all reasonable requests by students or parents of students to have content removed as soon as practicable.

Another source:

When in doubt please contact Legal Services – using the link on the home page ‘request legal advice’ @ Legal Services (nsw.gov.au)

Compiled by Greg McLaren, contributor Christopher Miles (Legal Services)

Preparing for EBS Decommission | Vice President Leah Martin

The department will decommission the EBS system across all NSW public schools by the end of June 2024. Around 500 schools have already successfully decommissioned off EBS and your school will be contacted when you become eligible to decommission during Terms 1 and 2 of this year.

The decommissioning of EBS will continue progressively in Term 1, 2024 for schools who have nominated School Bytes, Sentral or Hero for Groups, Rooms and Staff. A draft schedule is available at EBS decommission.

Head to the EBS Decommission intranet page to find information, the latest news and frequently asked questions on the EBS Decommissioning Project.

Join a MyPL Drop In Session

The EBS decommission project team and supplier representatives will be available to answer all your questions at our weekly EBS decommission drop-in sessions which you can register for via MyPL (NT02367).

Recording Suspensions in Third Party Software | Vice President Leah Martin

In line with the new Student Behaviour Policy and procedures, third party vendors have made updates to suspension processes and requirements from this term. It is important that Principals are aware of the new requirements and access the support of their chosen vendor to ensure the correct process is used when recording a suspension.

For schools using Sentral to record suspensions

Sentral have released a comprehensive, updated guide for how to record suspensions and held a recorded webinar to outline the updates. You can view the webinar in our podcast library on your members dashboard. 

and will need to login using your NSWPPA username and password.

It is particularly important to ensure that you have imported the relevant, updated letter templates aligned to the current policy for 2024. For those who use Sentral, you will need to go into Wellbeing Setup > Letters > Letter Repository and import the new letters that are labelled 2024, as these are the ones aligned to the new policy and procedures. Take care not to use a previous letter that is no longer relevant.

Once imported, you can then go into Wellbeing Setup > Letters > Manage Letters to edit the templates you have imported to suit the needs of your school.

OC Teacher and Principal Conference | Vice President Norma Petrocco

The OC Teacher and Principal PL Conference will be held on the 4-5 April 2024. This is a quality professional learning opportunity for OC principals, OC teachers and aspiring OC teachers. Please see the attached flyer. 

New HPGE & OC Working Party | Vice President Norma Petrocco

The inaugural meeting of the new HPGE and OC Working Party was held this week. The group is chaired by Jono Coombes, principal at Artarmon PS and the meeting was held at our Ultimo Office.

The purpose of the Working Party is to support, empower, advocate and lead on behalf of all our HPGE and OC students, principals, staff and families. 

All schools have HPGE students and the focus of the Working Party is to ensure equity of access to funding, resourcing, support and professional learning. 

Below is a photo of our first meeting with one of our guest presenter Bohdan Balla-Gow Principal Education Officer, HPGE Coordinator. 

Curriculum Reform Update | Vice President Norma Petrocco

Please refer to the Term 1 Week 3 School Noticeboard for the latest on Curriculum Reform.

Click on the Curriculum Reform Update for DELS and principals PowerPoint and gains access to the Term 2 Staff Development Day list of the suite of professional learning available and the requirements to gain accreditation on this day.

Have your Say on final and new NESA syllabuses K-10 | Vice President Norma Petrocco

The final consultation period for the 'CHIPS' syllabuses:

• Creative Arts
• HSIE
• PDHPE
• Science and Technology

from the 26 February to 11 March 2024.

Please encourage your colleague principals and teachers to engage with this Round 2 consultation as NESA takes on board the feedback and has made changes to syllabuses. 

2024 Professional Learning | PLO Drew Janetzki

Welcome back to the beginning of 2024, along with an updated 2024 Professional Learning Catalogue.

Our full 2024 Professional Learning Catalogue can be viewed below

This year, the NSWPPA have several exclusive offerings tailored specifically for our members, including exciting new additions.

New Offerings and Professional Learning Opportunities:

Real Conversations with Mitch Wallis  Book now via:

NEW in 2024 is our Art of Leadership Masterclass
A Scholarship Reflective Practice opportunity 
Liz Wiseman's Multipliers EOI 
Franklin Covey's 4 Essential Roles of Leadership EOI

Reminders:

Art of Leadership program 2024
Art of Leadership Masterclass Program
An extension of our renowned and exclusive Art of Leadership program. 
Spaces for the 2024 Art of Leadership schedule are filling up quickly!
Semester 1 
Face to face Ultimo Program:
Speed of Trust : 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People 

Middle Leadership Imperative Program
Networks are also making enquires to invest in our Middle Leaders Program 
through the Middle Leadership Imperative Program.
Enquiries can be made via:

Great to see The Flourish Movement Podcast Season 2 Announcement!!

The 2024 Program can be found via:

The Anxiety Project EOI extended to due student wellbeing boost funding

Lastly, when you are considering how to spend your student wellbeing boost funding, we hope that you will consider The Anxiety Project.
What distinguishes The Anxiety Project from other wellbeing initiatives?
It specifically addresses anxiety in students using proven CBT early intervention strategies.   
It improves teachers’ abilities to identify and manage student anxiety.
It includes parents in a whole of community response to student anxiety.

The Anxiety Project is a NSWPPA initiative, and we have a FREE information session coming up:

FREE Information Session
29 February 2024.
8.15am – 9.00am

You can register HERE for this information session.

EOI extended:

Be sure to keep an eye out for more ongoing updates and initiatives in 2024. 

Our full 2024 Professional Learning Catalogue  can be viewed below:

And finally …….

On behalf of the NSWPPA Executive – Rob Walker, Bob Willetts, Michael Burgess, Leah Martin, Trish Peters, Norma Petrocco, Stuart Wylie, Greg McLaren, Michael Trist, Scott Sanford I acknowledge the brilliant start YOU have led in your school. Four weeks in and the energy levels are high. THANKYOU!!  I wish you all a fabulous week 4 – the term is certainly off to a great start.

Make the time to celebrate each day and with your staff each week.

 And, when we get to Friday, have a great weekend … week 5 is just around the corner.

Kind regards,
Robyn
Robyn Evans
NSWPPA President