What's Hot March

President’s Report:

Good morning colleagues and HAPPY WEEK 8 to you all!!
It has been one of the busiest terms in so many ways for us all. But how productive have we all been at the same time!

It has been an absolute joy for the Executive to be across so many parts of the state at PPC meetings and regional conferences. Positive energy and recognition of the heavy lifting we are currently doing is healthy. It is of the utmost importance that we are mindful of our own wellness – remember the importance to action it so as we model it to our teams and communities.

Celebrating the little things are in fact the cumulative BIG THINGS. Connecting with colleagues is key to support and agency as well as celebrating the wins and the joys of being a Principal.  We need to embed this practice – a ritual and a mantra I guess. We need to call each other in on it and remind ourselves that boundaries matter.

Our work as Principal is richly rewarding however, we are consistently switch tasking – it is the nature of the job. However, research tells us that this is an unhealthy and disruptive, and one that can become a habit. I challenge you to give yourself permission to be present and focus your attention on your work for a sustained period of time – be it completing a written task, engaging in a conversation, teaching a class, attending a meeting or indeed sitting or standing at your desk completing something you need to get across the line. It is to be practiced and communicated, modelled and valued. Try it, share it and make it an every day. Take the challenge 😊

Sustainable and joyful leadership is our goal.  Secretary Murat Dizdar has been incredibly open and transparent about the fact that the work ahead is going to be hard and there will be things we will not be happy about.  We need to remain focused on what we can control right now and take pleasure and pride in this work in particular.

Announcement this week | Changes to Opportunity Classes for 2025:

This week I’ve had numerous calls about the announcement made by Martin Graham | Deputy Secretary, Teaching, Learning and Student Wellbeing. The Deputy Premier and Secretary’s decision were explained regarding the relocation of a number of Opportunity Classes. The schools selected were those who had enrolment numbers (and OC classes) near, at and over their capped enrolment. The hope the system has, is to create further access for students in our communities as well as creating spaces for siblings at the OC site if parents and carers so wish to enrol their other children.

The NSWPPA Executive, Executive Liaison, Working Party Chairperson were not consulted on the changes. Nor did we have details we could share with the Principalship. I, along with Principals were informed verbally on Monday, prior to the communication to schools going live. Over the past two days I have sought further clarity and detail including the why? As you can imagine there have been many questions from colleagues including how sites for relocation were selected, potential staffing impacts in schools that may arise in existing schools as well as in the relocated school, what support and resourcing for the relocated site will be offered in the transition year and a range of other questions.

The NSWPPA Executive, HPGE OC Chairperson and I remain committed to supporting Principals and their schools to navigate these changes.

Term 1 State Council:

During week 6 the NSWPPA Executive hosted the first State Council Meeting for 2024 along with the Chairpersons of Reference Groups, Standing Committees and Working Parties and Observers. PPC Delegates are key to these meetings as they are in essence the conduit between the State Council and their respective PPC memberships. This term PPC Presidents were in attendance too. Last week and this week most PPCs met for their term 1 meeting and I am incredibly confident great detail landed in each and every PPC – keeping the membership up to date with a consistent message is what we are aiming for. This term Vice President Leah Martin prepared an extraordinary presentation for PPC Delegates to present to their PPC membership – key messaging across the state. There is responsibility too for the membership to feed information via the Delegate to the State Executive, Chairs and Observers to ensure there is follow up – the two way communication strengthens the business of the Association and amplifies voice and the action that follows.

This term we focused very much on the operation of the NSWPPA and the culture and practices we lead and cultivate. The why and the how. Both the Deputy Premier Prue Car and Secretary Murat Dizdar were in attendance and generous and candid in conversation. Guests invited were relevant at this point in time to address the immediate issues presenting across the state.

Guests included:

• Information Technology Directorate – Charlie Sukkar | Mark Greentree
• People Group – Shaun Ruming | Leah Anderson | Emma Trusswell
• Curriculum Reform - James Hoffman | Heather Laverick

What we have been across this term:

Our Plan for NSW Public Education | AGPPA Executive Meeting | Meeting with Jason Clare and the AEU | NCCD Quality Assurance Project | Public Schools Summit | Executive Teaching Time Consultation Group  |Staff Wellbeing Strategy Work Group | The Anxiety Project Steering Committee | FLOURISH consultation for the 2024 school year | NESA Board Meeting |  APC&I | Executive Teaching Time PLEASE ENGAGE colleagues |ACCC Response Global Payments and School Bytes |  Financial Management Reference Group | SLI Consultations | PSL and PCM recruitment | Line by Line Policy and Procedure Review | Digital Channel Uplift | Regional Rural and Remote work | NSWPPA State Conference 2024 |  AI Working Group – 16 pilot schools | State Executive Meetings | State Council Meeting | PES Forums | Executive Staff  Focus | School Excellence | PSO Meetings | SPC and PPA Meetings | Minister’s Office Conversations | COO Conversations |Communications and Engagement Working Group | Pre EMM Consultation | External Validation – School Excellence | PES Principals Reference Group | Principal Supp| Curriculum Reform Meetings | 100 Public Pre Schools | Asbestos Issues WHS | External Validation | Public Interest Disclosure | NSWTF and SPC Conversations | Salaries Negotiation | Principal Classification |   Resourcing and Funding Issues | RG WP and SC Meetings and Regional Conferences | AGPPA and APPA Council Meetings | NSW Teachers Federation Conference – just to mention a few... 

Principal Induction at Novotel Brighton:

Recently the SLI hosted the first Principal Induction for 2024 at Novotel Brighton for recently appointed primary and secondary principals and those in long term relieving roles. It was such a privilege for Bob Willetts, Trish Peters, Norma Petrocco, Michael Burgess and I to warmly welcome our colleagues to the Principalship and speak about the value and role of the NSWPPA to the membership. It has been wonderful too since that event to see colleagues at the induction at their PPC meetings.  You have entered a very privileged and rewarding role as Principal. Welcome!!

Commissioned Artwork for the NSWPPA Office:

We have commissioned Sharon Robbie from KrubiCreative to design wall artwork for the home of the NSWPPA. This artwork tells the story of the NSWPPA – who we are, the work we do and the WHY we do it. I will share the story I told Sharon and what she in return came back to us with. Sections of this artwork will be used with her permission for merchandise and NSWPPA branding. We are incredibly excited that this work is almost ready for installation – by EduGraphics. Can hardly wait to share it with you when you next visit the Office – stay tuned for more on this.

At the National level this term:

Australian Government Primary Principals’ Association

The AGPPA Meeting this week commenced with a new members induction – representatives from ACT, SA, QLD and NSW were welcomed to the Council Meeting representatives of their respective Associations.  Bob Willetts will be representing NSWPPA this year in these forums with me. I would like to acknowledge the incredible leadership of Michael Burgess in this space over the past three years. He has privileged the membership of AGPPA great insights into the work of our Association by contributing and influencing other leaders across the nation.

This meeting was one of action and planning for the year ahead. We have refined the Strategic Plan and the advocacy and voice we intend to have at a national level. I am really excited about the commitment of all state and territory members. At each of our meetings we cover off on ‘State of the Nation‘. It was unanimous that this work needs to be expanded and more deeply reflected on at each meeting to form a ‘national position’ on common matters – this information will be forwarded through State Presidents to their membership for consideration and knowledge building.

Last year AGPPA commissioned Pasi Salberg to strengthen the advocacy for Australian Schools resourcing. An invaluable source of information that I will forward to our Deputy Premier | Secretary | NSW Teachers Federation | NSWSPC and NSWP&C. I champion you to forward a copy to your local government member and your own school communities. It is the position of AGPPA that all government primary schools should be fully funded at 100% of the SRS at the commencement of the next National Reform Agreement.

2024 is election year for AGPPA. Last year I was elected by the membership when the Vice President stepped down from the position. I was very humbled to again be nominated and elected to the Vice Presidents role this week. I will fulfil this role for my remaining tenure as NSWPPA President. There is so much we can do in this space to ensure AGPPA is the key national body the Education Minister | Shadow Minister | Senators and National bodies can leverage off. Exciting times ahead at a national level.

Australian Primary Principals’ Association

This week too I attended the first APPA National Advisory Council Meeting for 2024. APPA President Angela Falkenberg updated the forum about the work of the Association as did the cross sectoral Presidents of our Government ( AGPPA ) Independent and Catholic schools.  The APPA NAC also invested time into the priorities of the Association under three pillars: Curriculum, Resourcing and Wellbeing. The advocacy APPA affords the three sectors sits under these three key pillars of work.

The Annual General Meeting was also held at this meeting and was opened with the ‘who, what and how’.

“APPA represents over 7,600 primary principals and school leaders across Australia; 200,000 primary teachers; and 2.2 million primary students; all working and learning in primary schools from 24 jurisdictions across all three education sectors.

APPA's collective vision is to elevate primary school principals to esteemed, confident leaders of globally recognised education in every Australian primary school. Our mission is to serve as a national voice for all primary school principals, advocating for their advancement, and supporting their education and wellbeing, along with that of their students and communities.

APPA’s plan has four areas of focus: Advocate for the profession, Grow and develop the profession, Influence Primary Education and Effective governance and management.

APPA is deservedly proud of the collegiality and positive intent that has enabled Government, Catholic and Independent primary school leaders to work together in the best interests of Australian primary education for 50 years.”

Upcoming, is the APPA | Trans-Tasman Conference in Christchurch New Zealand 18-20 September 2024. The NSWPPA Executive along with six members of the State Council will be attending.

Excitingly too this year, APPA is celebrating 50 years of operation – this week the Board and members of the National Advisory Council attended a celebration - Parliamentary Friends of Primary Education at Parliament House. Former APPA President Norm Hart (2011-2014) was invited to address the group regaling the work of the Association during his leadership and championed the future work of the current President Angela Falkenberg and the National Council members.

 The Term 2 APPA National Advisory Council will be held in Brisbane 28-29 May 2024.

Professional Support Officers:

At Term 1 State Council Presidents were given a PowerPoint that highlighted the role and work of our Professional Support Officers. Presidents will use the PowerPoint at their Council meetings in Term 1 or Term 2.

Principals are encouraged to seek assistance early should they be challenged by matters relating to their role. Your PSOs are also available to attend your local Primary Principals’ Council or Combined Area Council meetings if requested. Their Contact numbers are:

Geoff Scott       0427 451 359
Phil Seymour    0412 673 378
Lyn Davis          0417 465 652

A note from our new business partner | Life Ed:

Use your Student Wellbeing Boost funds with Healthy Harold:

Utilise your Student Wellbeing Boost funding to empower students with Life Ed's evidence-based program. Life Ed is committed to promoting social and emotional learning, resilience, and respectful relationship skills. Life Ed’s specialist Educators deliver age-appropriate modules that are aligned with the NSW syllabus, designed to support student wellbeing. Plus, access a range of supplementary resources for teachers and parents alike. Act now – Student Wellbeing Boost funds must be committed by March 31, 2024!  

Truth-telling Research & Community Consultation | Aboriginal Education Chair Paul Byrne:

NSWPPA Aboriginal Education Reference Group chair, Paul Byrne, requested the below information to be communicated to all Principals as approved by the AOPD. It is information forwarded from a database to Aboriginal and/or Torres Islander school staff by Deputy Secretary, Deb Summerhayes, in the last week of February. It may have missed from being corresponded to several Aboriginal and/or Torres Islander school staff. We would encourage all Principals to share the below information with Aboriginal and/or Torres Islander school staff. Attached is both an AOPD flyer, FAQ and a link to the webpage: Truth-telling

Late last year, the department commenced a formal truth-telling process to document its role and impact on Aboriginal culture and educational outcomes for Aboriginal people in NSW. Through this process, we want to enable a widespread understanding of our shared story and history. I want to invite all current and former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to take part.

I understand the result of the 2023 referendum has impacted views on truth-telling, and respect that not everyone believes this is the right approach. We are progressing with sensitivity as many Aboriginal representatives have confirmed that it remains an important piece of work. It may bring up a range of emotions for different people. Please know that truth-telling is an opt-in process and involvement is completely voluntary.

Why truth-telling?

We want to build and strengthen our organisational cultural capability and deliver the best educational experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across NSW. To do this, we need to educate our workforce and ensure our staff understand the department’s history, its systems and practices, and their impacts, including those still seen today.

Racism remains an issue in our workplaces and schools. We hope truth-telling will help us to address racism and the trauma faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Awareness and understanding are key to preventing racism and negative attitudes and beliefs.

Truth-telling will help us be open and transparent about our shared history and contribute to healing. Through truth-telling, we want to:

• provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to tell the stories they want to tell in the ways they want to tell them.
• use the stories and records to create legacy resources to help educate our staff and students now and in the future.
• ensure transparency around the impacts of departmental policies and practices and acknowledge the findings of the truth-telling process.
• create clear lines of accountability to address remaining institutional and systemic barriers.

Participation

We invite all current and former Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff to participate in the community consultation and research. Again, this is completely voluntary and will be on an opt-in basis.

From March 2024, we will hold community consultation workshops through community forums, yarning circles and the Have Your Say digital engagement platform. These workshops will help us understand how to best engage Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community members in the research and provide culturally-safe supports throughout the process. Feedback from this process will also be used to guide the department’s future use of the research.

Please refer to the FAQ for locations and dates of community consultation and register your interest in attending a workshop. For more information, please contact the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) team on rap@det.nsw.edu.au.

More truth-telling research opportunities

From April 2024, the Purai Global Indigenous History Centre at the University of Newcastle will be undertaking truth-telling research on “our past, our present and our future” It will focus on the stories of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and communities across NSW and aspirations for a better future. This will involve community workshops, yarning circles and interviews to capture stories from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their experiences with the department. For more information, please contact the university team on TruthTelling@newcastle.edu.au.

Our aim is to create safe workplaces and ensure our learners achieve the best possible educational outcomes. We hope that truth-telling will help us build trust and confidence with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, students, families, and communities.

Sharing Aboriginal Education Stories | Aboriginal Education Chair Paul Byrne:

Each term, every school has an opportunity to share what is being experienced by our students, staff and community related to Aboriginal Education. This is achieved through your regional Principal representative attending the NSWPPA Aboriginal Education Reference Group meeting ably led by chair, Paul Byrne.

Principals are encouraged to email images or text to their local contact of any Aboriginal Education event, question or suggestion relating to their school.

Each of our 43 NSWPPA Local Areas (PPCs) has a council contact person for Aboriginal Education. Get to know your Local Area contact. To obtain the name of your contact visit  NSW Primary Principals' Association (nswppa.org.au) then scroll down and select Aboriginal Education to find the Principal representing your PPC.

What’s happening at your school? We do capture a lot of wonderful learning and events taking place in our schools but more is happening in the state. The sharing of information can assist to enhance Aboriginal Education for all schools. It is also an opportunity to recognise individual schools. NSWPPA Aboriginal Education Reference Group is looking forward to seeing your school’s submission.

The Anxiety Project | Deputy President Rob Walker:

The Anxiety Project is a whole of school community learning program designed by members of the PPA with specialists in the field. The target outcome is the reduction in anxiety levels of students for better academic and wellbeing outcomes, increased confidence in staff in recognising and knowing how to respond to student anxious behaviours and, a reduction in accommodations by parents. There are many other beneficial outcomes of participation.

To provide school communities with this learning opportunity, the NSWPPA has partnered with Child Psychologist Michael Hawton’s Parentshop to provide training for school leaders, in-school coaches, all schools staff (teaching, SLSOs and SAOs) and parents. Stage appropriate lessons coherent with the PDHPE syllabus are also delivered as a part of the project. It’s a two year project in each participating school. We currently have two cohorts participating the 2023-24 cohort and 2024-25 cohort.

The project also has a research component where four measures at repeated time intervals over the two years capture data on the impact of the intervention. Data is collected via teacher reflection of students, student reflection on self, teacher reflection on self and parent reporting of accommodations they make in managing anxiety in their child. The first capture for each measurement is captured before any training or lessons commence. Further measures are taken subsequent as anxiety reduction is anticipated over time.

Involvement as at 7/3/24:

At time intervals each participating school is provided with an Intervention Impact Report developed by contracted tertiary researchers that are interpreting the data. These provide comparisons for the school from one time measure to the next, between the school and SSG and between the school and all schools participating in the project.

There are fortnightly Zoom Cafes for the coaches, a termly café for school principals, a fortnightly newsletter, and a learning platform which shares course content, resources for using with staff, students and community, a sharing platform for coaches to share materials developed at the school level and a communication platform for the coaches. The learning is rich.

The PPA has also reported on the Time 0 data capture outcomes for each measure. The levels of anxiety are higher than desirable. In the next few weeks we will see reports for the Time 1 measures. These will inform us of the early impact of the intervention – stay tuned!

Schools wishing to express interest in joining the project should complete the EOI form on the PPA website. Further enquiries to Deputy President, Rob Walker (rob.walker@det.nsw.edu.au) or Vice-President Trish Peters (trish.peters@det.nsw.edu.au.

New members in our Reference Groups, Standing Committees and Working Parties | Deputy President Rob Walker:

The NSWPPA provides many opportunities for colleagues to contribute to our mantra Support, Empower, Advocate and Lead (SEAL) through the work of our reference groups, working parties and standing committees. At term 1 State Council, following an equivalent number of vacancies, 13 principals were endorsed to step onto our state groups and Benjamin Carter (Boggabri PS) was appointed Chair of the Communications and Engagement Standing Committee.

Congratulations to

• Benjamin Carter (Chair, Communications & Engagement SC)
• Dawn Dallas (member, Communications & Engagement SC)
• Denise Toohey (member representing Western Region, Principal Support RG) 
• Kasey Henness (member representing Sydney Region, Principal Support RG)
• Annie Munro (member representing Western Region, Finance & Admin RG) 
• Jemima Gammone (member representing Illawarra SE Region, Curriculum RG) 
• Jude Hayman (member representing Illawarra SE Region, Aboriginal Education RG
• Gary Workman (member representing Riverina Region, Disability Programs RG)
• Lisa Kelly (member representing New England Region, Asset Management RG)
• Christine Wren (member representing Western Sydney Region, Asset Management RG) 
• Kirrilee Twyford (member representing Riverina Region, Teaching Principals’ RG)  
• Nicole Gilmore (member representing Sydney Region, Teaching Principals’ RG)
• Kirsten Blake (member representing Hunter/Central Coast Region, Teaching Principals’ RG)
• Megan McQueen (member representing North Coast Region, SSP RG) 

We have recently called for expressions of interest for two positions on each of the Legal Issues Standing Committee and New Builds & Rebuilds Standing Committee, and one position on the Annual Conference Standing Committee.

All colleagues are encouraged to consider expressing interest in these types of roles as they become available. A broad representation ensures our positions are comprehensively considered and well developed when working with the Department and other agencies on solutions to matters which come forward in our work.

New State Council Norms Enhance our Culture, Wellbeing and Relationships | Deputy President Bob Willetts:

In the executive codesign of the term 1 2024 state council agenda, we considered the feedback from previous councils, our core purpose, our work on the culture of our association, and research about teams and norms.  

We also considered the relationship we are trying to create with DoE senior executive and each other, as well as our research about health and wellbeing.

We tried to build this wealth of understanding into the State Council agenda. 

This term we made 2 simple but important changes:

• 1 person creating the PPC presentation: delegates can then focus on the presentations
• Short breaks for delegates to check emails and check in with school.

Why we made the changes?

1) It’s more efficient and more effective: as Toyota executive say; “If two people are doing the same job, one of them is redundant”

2) Switch-tasking fries your brain: Switch-tasking causes stress and anxiety, a sense of burnout, and negatively impacts relationships and organisational culture.  Switch-tasking also causes “Attentional Blink” when the working memory has to reset. This means people miss really important information, and their mistake/error rate increases dramatically.

3) Human connection enhances wellbeing and culture. The more present we can be in every interaction, the better for our wellbeing and our culture. 

Impact:

The feedback was fantastic with loads of comments that the simple changes had a big impact for both the delegates and presenters.

• Delegates could focus on the presentations
• The relationships and trust with guests improved because of the enhanced engagement and sense of delegates being present and engaged.
• The key messaging and take aways from presentations is consistent – including the PPA actions forward.

A huge thanks to Vice President Leah Martin for developing the presentation for Delegates.

Staff Wellbeing Strategy | Deputy President Bob Willetts:

We continue to provide significant and detailed feedback about the “Staff Wellbeing Strategy” and related implementation plan. We are committed to advocating the PPA positions about the need for the strategy to have real and tangible initiatives that address the concerning wellbeing data we see across the state.

Thank you to Grace Palamara, Robyn Evans and the PSRG for their ongoing commitment to influencing and shaping this important strategy.

AGPPA National Council Meeting | Deputy President Bob Willetts:

Robyn Evans Elected as Vice President of AGPPA:

Congratulations to Robyn Evans who was elected the Vice President of the Australian Government Primary Principals’ Association on Monday.

The State of the Nation:

Each state and territory is invited to present up to ten dot points about significant changes/challenges they face since the previous meeting. It is fascinating to see the common challenges and wide variety of solutions in place. At this meeting it was decided to build on this part of the agenda in future to create more national positions and actions forward to strengthen our advocacy both in AGPPA as well as our home associations.

Strategic Plan: We spent a significant amount of time focused on developing and refining the AGPPA strategic plan during the meeting. We look forward to strengthening our advocacy in key areas as a result of the plan.

The Flourish Movement Podcast | Deputy President Bob Willetts:

Season 2 of the Flourish Movement Podcast has launched and talk about IMPACT!.

Imaging saving 200 leave days and having 140 less critical incidences…. Just by a strategic focus on staff wellbeing!!!!

In this episode, we talk to Simon Ellaby, the proud Principal of a Special Education School in Tasmania. Since joining the school, Simon has put a lot of time and effort into improving the culture of the school and the staff’s wellbeing. As a result of this, he saw significant reductions in absenteeism (200 days last year), the number of critical incidents, teachers want to come and work at his school and his current staff is engaged in their work. In times where schools are struggling to find staff, we dive into how Simon created a space that, not only retains, but also attracts staff.

The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Enhancing team culture and trust – The Braving Inventory | Deputy President Bob Willetts:

Our work in Principal Support and Wellbeing has made many of us superfans of Brene’ Brown’s work.

At the PSRG and State Council Grace Palamara ran a great session focused on enhancing team culture and trust. It’s a pair-sharing activity to identify your personal and team areas of strength and areas for improvement to improve trust in your school.

The activity is included in the Term 1 State Council Kit for Delegates and a great way to start conversations that build trust, and empathy in your teams.

Thank you Grace for your outstanding leadership and support.

The link to the inventory is here:

Retention and Disposal of School Records | Vice President Greg McLaren:

Schools are responsible for creating, managing and disposing of school administration and student records.

School records include all information created, sent or received in the course of carrying out the school’s business such as paper files, information in business systems, email messages, documents and important correspondences through applications such as Microsoft Outlook and Teams.

Disposal is the term used to describe action taken when records are no longer needed by the Department of Education. Records can be disposed of after their minimum retention periods (eg the minimum number of years the records must legally be kept for), set out by the retention and disposal authorities approved by State Records.

Retention as State Archives means that once the records are no longer needed by the Department, they must be transferred to State Records to be retained permanently, and never destroyed.

Not all documents need to be kept as records. Many documents are not required longer-term as records and can be legally destroyed as soon as they cease to be useful.

Keep in mind, schools do have to consider legal obligations, our duty of care to students (who quickly become former students) and reputational risks in making this decision. The findings now being handed down by the Royal Commission show how important it is that the records of schools are retained. It is clear that in the future, schools may become subject to legal proceedings where a spotlight will be shone on their past actions.

So, from a reputational risk perspective, for how long should a school retain records that include personal information and, in particular, sensitive personal information of its former students?

FA387

Functional Retention and Disposal Authority: FA387. This authority covers records documenting the function of primary education. For example, retaining playground rosters for 3 years, retaining record of variations of routine for 5 years and retaining teacher program documents for two years after completion, then destroy. A full list is provided in: 

GA28

Another essential reference is GA28 covering administrative and financial records. A simplified list:  

 A topical one is asbestos related records that need to be kept for a minimum of 75 years as per GA28. This relates to Occupational Health & Safety and Property Management. A recent reference can be made using Health & Safety directorate safety alert #99 regarding recycled mulch: 

Staff Training in Retention and Disposal of School Records

School training on records management for Principals, other school executive and administrative staff can be found via short courses (12 mins & 25 mins respectively):

If you require further assistance in other related record retention or disposal issues, you can log an online link with EDConnect. Ask for an email response to have as a record for the advice.

Compiled by Greg McLaren sent to DoE Records Management & Legal Services  

Curriculum Reform Update | Vice President Norma Petrocco:

NSW Curriculum Reform Key Messages | Megan Kelly | Executive Director | Curriculum and Reform

We're excited to share the latest updates and opportunities as part of our ongoing NSW Curriculum Reform efforts.

School development day focusing on curriculum implementation 29 April

The Term 2 School Development Day (SDD) is dedicated to supporting teachers and leaders with Curriculum Reform. A suite of 18 P syllabus and curriculum support professional learning (PL) packages have been developed. The PL packages have guides to support facilitation and schools need to select staff to facilitate the sessions.

Attending the curriculum implementation SDD enables participants to gain 5 hours of NESA accreditation. Participants need to complete a 30-minute pre-recorded introductory session and three 90-minute PL offerings. There is no need to enrol in individual sessions ahead of the day. Information about accreditation and the PL packages are on the SDD webpage.

Transition to high school webpage now live

The Transition to high school webpage is now available on the NSW Department of Education website. This staff-only webpage brings together a range of evidence-based resources to complement the excellent work already happening in NSW public schools to support students and their families during the transition to Year 7.

Professional learning – Leading effective curriculum implementation (LECI)

Module 1 of the ‘Leading effective curriculum implementation’ (LECI) professional learning is now available. The professional learning is free and available to support you as a middle leader to lead effective curriculum implementation for any syllabus.

School planning resources for leaders

A comprehensive support package for school leaders to support planning for curriculum in your Strategic Improvement Plan is now available. The package contains resources and support to address the following questions:

• How can schools develop a Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) initiative specific to curriculum implementation?
• How will curriculum reform impact on Implementation and Progress Monitoring (IPM)?
• How can schools map curriculum reform activities to the School Excellence Framework (SEF)?

New sample units for English and mathematics 3–6 

In response to valuable feedback from schools, we have updated some of our Years 3-6 resources. The updates include a variety of resources across both English and mathematics, ensuring materials are current, relevant, and effectively support teaching practices. Share these with your staff.

We also published 8 new sample units for English and 18 for mathematics in Week 5. The units are designed with suggested learning experiences and assessment opportunities that align with the Years 3–6 scope and sequences (and instructional sequences for English). Schools should adapt and contextualise the sample units to meet students’ needs. 

Share the resource release announcement with your staff.

Curriculum & Reform is committed to providing continuous improvement and support for NSW primary schools. If you have any questions, feedback or would like more information, please email contactcurriculumreform@det.nsw.edu.au

2024 Professional Learning | PLO Drew Janetzki:

Dive into a wealth of new professional development opportunities – explore the full catalogue at 

2024 Highlights:

Liz Wiseman's Multipliers (Franklin Covey): Unlock your leadership potential. Register your interest via EOI: 

Mitch Wallis' Real Conversations: Enhance your communication skills. One session sold out – limited spots remain!
Term 2 Program (Online): May 15 & 16
Ultimo Workshop (Face-to-Face): June 26
Secure your place: 

Middle Leadership Imperative: Popular with PPCs – register now to secure your spot!
Western Sydney and Mudgee Programs have been added full date and bookings via

BREAKING NEWS: 

Art of Leadership is now approved for 45 hours at lead level, boosting your NESA registration hours!
Art of Leadership: Elevate your leadership – spaces are filling fast for courses and Masterclasses. 
Secure your spot for the remaining spots: 

Sydney 9, Rooty Hill 10 and Sydney 12

BREAKING NEWS:

Anxiety Project: The 2025-26 EOI is now available due to the recent announcement of the NSW Department of Education.

Full details via:

Clarity Learning Suite: Anticipate insightful podcasts and webinars aligning this suite with the NSW Public Education Plan and School Excellence Framework.

We are currently  having a successful pilot program for those participants enrolled in Clarity Learning Suite, we have over 300 participants registered

If you sign up with Clarity Learning Suite we are offering a second pilot program.

Together CLS&PPA:  Program Leading all Learners Invitation Pilot Program. (Only for enrolled leaders of Clarity Learning Suite)

Limited to 20 participants

Podcast Season 2 is out now: 

Explore Season 2 of our Professional Learnings podcast via the link below or your favourite podcast platform.

Professional Learnings for Educational Leaders is an initiative to support and inform NSWPPA members of the NSWPPA Professional Learning suite offerings.

Our season 2 guests have included our two Reflective Practice scholarship recipients  Andrew Pryce and Shanti Clements, with  Lyn Sharratt and Rob Stones.

Personalised Support: Need help navigating the options? 

Book time with NSWPPA PLO Drew Janetzki: 

And finally …….

On behalf of the NSWPPA Executive, after a very successful State Council – Rob Walker, Bob Willetts, Michael Burgess, Leah Martin, Trish Peters, Norma Petrocco, Stuart Wylie, Greg McLaren, Michael Trist, Scott Sanford, Mark Pritchard, Lisa Beare and Drew Janetzki, I would like to acknowledge your incredible work – the hard and demanding work that you are doing serving your school community, staff and most importantly students. Celebrate the everyday wins as they REALLY matter.

Kind regards,
Robyn
Robyn Evans NSWPPA President