What's Hot April

President’s Report:

Well, we have made it to Friday!!! What a week this one in particular has been. Can I acknowledge and thank you for the exemplar leadership you afford your school community, staff and importantly students. YOU have invested heart and energy into the key role in your school. I applaud how you show up and with ease, lead with clarity, purpose and energy. Thank you for caring for your teams - your people, in the way you do.

I would also like to express my appreciation for the way you have navigated this past week with budget announcements. I am cognisant that whilst many questions remain unanswered and require clarity, there is a sense of urgency in knowing detail. I know too it is in our best interest to slow things down. In saying that, we make informed decisions when we have all the information in front of us. YOU lead your site – you have made decisions for 2024 based on the information you started the year with. The budget is one thing - our people - our staff – our team – the support for students, is dependent on the finances coming into our schools.. this is where our hearts sit. Please stay the course right now. Our teams are looking to us for answers and job security and in essence ‘what it all means’ and how it is going to impact on them.

The NSWPPA State Executive and I are strongly committed to staying the course and we have been repeatedly asked about the part we have played in the budget decisions we were informed of last Tuesday. Governments and Departments of the day will make decisions that Associations are not in the room for to shape or influence. There are times, we are brought in early and are part of the process and we have the opportunity to influence and shape HOW it will land. This time, the decision is solely connected to Treasury, and the current enrolment of students in our schools. 

Several times a day I am connecting with – discussing, feeding forward the voice of the principalship with key personnel.  Craig Petersen, Henry Rajendra, Matt Johnson and I are also coming together daily.

 This morning I am meeting with Murat Dizdar, Mark Grant, Shaun Ruming, Craig Petersen and Matt Johnson specifically on the budget announcements and the implications. Yesterday I fielded many calls and responded to emails regarding staffing and SIP’s. Please, just hold the line until you receive your adjusted SBAR next term. And, at this stage please don’t adjust your SIP until you have a clearer picture of what is in front of you. Your DEL too is seeking site specific information from you.

The Executive Time Review is continuing. I thank you for responding to my request to engage in the survey if you hadn’t been to a round table event or had a school visit. This review continues. In this space the Presidents of the Association have been updated weekly/fortnightly as more information comes to hand and as there is an extension to this time frame the outcome will be delayed.

We always make things in our school’s work. Now is no different. That’s who we are. The students in our schools will continue to be prioritised. The light must be focussed on the sheer workload coming into our schools – the right resources need to be given to students and our staff must be strongly supported. You and I know that to be the fact.

The Enrolment Policy Roundtable will be key in attracting and retaining enrolments – 25,000 students will not be walking back into our schools throughout 2024. You and I know there is no quick fix in this space. We also know that with some changes to the policy the market share will indeed start to turn – yes there is more than the policy that needs to be looked at.

On Tuesday 23 April I will be attending the roundtable chaired By Secretary | Murat Dizdar. The voice of the principalship will be presented candidly.

North Coast Conference | Stronger Together:

A huge bright spot for me last week,  I attended and spoke at the North Coast PPC Conference - five PPC’s at the one venue – what a team effort it was to bring together amazing speakers, and an opportunity to truly connect. There was a really wonderful ‘feel in the room’. The lineup of keynote speakers included: Simon Breakspear, Margaret Throsborne, Murat Dizdar, Gihan Perera and Chelsea Pottenger. It was incredible too to see the familiar faces of some of our sponsors we know so well along with a number of new ones.

This Conference was an exemplar example of collegial connection and belonging – belonging to a PPC – belonging to the Association and system commitment. Huge thank you and acknowledgement of the combined Conference Committee – I felt very privileged to join you all. Never underestimate how inspiring you all are – the flood came and it subsided – and you continue to shine as new builds and rebuild plans start.

Schools Funding Matters | Western Sydney Forum | Kingswood High School:

This week too I was invited to join the NSW Teachers Federation Campaign forum at Kingswood HS. Presidents’ - Henry Rajendra | NSW  Teachers Federation, Raymond Ingrey | AECG,  Yvonne Hilsz | NSW P&C , Craig Petersen | SPC and I all joined Deputy Premier | Prue Car, spoke to need for the 100% SRS Funding commitment to be met.

It has never been more important than now for the State and Federal Governments to deliver on the commitment. You would all be familiar with this campaign and it was important for all stakeholders to unite with purpose and intent to resource our government schools for ALL students.

Our colleagues and friends:

In our complex and busy work environment I ask you to pause a minute and reflect. It is those who walk our ‘work days’ with us – those colleagues who become trusted friends that matter. I ask you sit with that just a minute and reflect on those who stand with you in the good times and in the not so.

Our collegial networks matter..

Last week I spoke to friends and colleagues at the North Coast Conference on their theme – ‘Stronger Together’ and I shared my personal and professional journey about what that’s looked like, sounded like and felt like. I also share the significance and importance of those you work with. We have a part to play individually and collectively. Never underestimate collegiality and all it offers. Make sure you invest in your colleagues and share in their story. Make sure you PRIORITISE time to spend with your colleagues professionally and personally. Think about who you sit alongside – to your left and to your right when you gather at a PPC Meeting or a Conference – who sits in front of you at the next table and who sits behind you, Who do you send a text message to and who do you send an email to?. Who do you make a phone call to catch up socially? Pause a minute and really think about the difference that make to the recipient… and think about how it makes you feel when they respond.  Kindness and care matters – investing time in each other reaps reward that cannot be measured.

Join me in celebrating the lives of two remarkable colleagues:

Catherine Rose Broadbridge | former Principal and Education Support Team colleague – a much loved, respected and valued colleague – remembered for her vibrancy, leadership and commitment to Public Education – our thoughts are with her beautiful family and treasured colleagues and friends. 

Stu Hasic | T4L Communications Manager - a much loved and respected colleague who sent us the most remarkable and useful information and was never too busy for anyone with his advice, support and exceptional sense of humour.  Stu was indeed a really good friend of the NSWPPA. Stu passed suddenly – our deep condolences to his beautiful family and colleagues.

Stu’s family have provided a link for you share your memories and messages about Stu 

His funeral is a private celebration. His family hope to celebrate his life with his colleagues in the near future. 

The NDIS at School | Vice President Trish Peters

The NSW Department of Education and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) recommend that therapy services funded through a child’s NDIS support plan are best delivered outside of school time. This allows the school to focus on teaching your child and all other students and ensures your child does not miss out on important learning time. (From the DoE Parent Information fact sheet)

Parents initiate requests for provision of services at the school through the NDIS, but the principal is responsible for deciding when and how therapy services are delivered in the school. The principal will make decisions that ensure that the school is able to run to benefit all students and without disrupting learning. The principal will manage any services that come into the school in a way that supports children to continue to take part in classes and school activities.

Principals need to consider:

• whether the externally funded service can be delivered in a way that does not interfere with the running of the school
• whether the school has a suitable space where the service can be provided
• whether the provision can be adequately supervised or observed, and the provider’s need to use school equipment or facilities.

Where service provision is not taking place in the student’s classroom, the service must be provided in a space that is readily accessible and can be observed, either directly or through a window or doorway. The ability for school staff to observe the service provision enables the school to meet its duty of care and child protection obligations to students.

Unhappy with the service or providers?

Schools will not assess the professional skills of therapy providers or evaluate their accreditation. However, if the school has concerns about the service being delivered to a child, the school will discuss these concerns with parents.

There is a requirement for providers to raise issues or concerns about school staff or operations with the school principal in the first instance and to consider the privacy of both staff and other students.

The school has the right to stop a provider’s access if:

• the provider breaches their agreement with the school
• the principal decides the service does not support your child’s educational needs or goals
• the service impacts on school operations.

Can I charge a fee to hire our space?

School principals have the authority to make decisions on the use of school premises and facilities, including hiring out school space to other parties.

If a school wishes to hire out a facility to an external provider for use outside of school hours this can be done with a Community Use Agreement (CUA) for short term arrangements (less than 12 months). CUAs are suitable for not-for-profit organisations or very small commercial enterprises (e.g. those with less than two employees) and can be negotiated at the school level and approved by school principals. CUAs can be completed online. Longer-term arrangements and/or those involving commercial activities need to be referred to School Infrastructure NSW for a lease/licence to be negotiated for the use of facilities. For further guidance and information, please contact the Asset Activations team at asset.activations@det.nsw.edu.au.

More information can be found here

Audit NSW- Supporting students with a disability | Vice President Trish Peters

Audit NSW is currently assessing whether the department is effectively supporting students with disability in NSW public schools and they want you to share your views and you can contribute here to their understanding until the end of Week 1 Term 2.

From the Audit NSW website:

Around one in five New South Wales public school students have a disability (183,000 students in 2022). Eighty-six per cent of students with disability learn in mainstream classes in mainstream schools, 11% learn in support classes in mainstream schools, and 3% in schools for specific purposes (SSPs). The Department of Education’s Disability Strategy (2019) committed to build a more inclusive education system and identified actions across four key reform areas:

• Strengthen support: investing in teachers and other support staff
• Increase resources and flexibility: enabling schools to operate with more flexibility
• Improve the family experience: making experiences better and easier
• Track outcomes: building an evidence base to measure progress. 

This audit will assess whether the department is effectively supporting students with disability in NSW public schools. 

It is important that we share this information widely with our colleagues and our own school staff so that the voices of the workforce in public schools can be heard! If students are not being effectively supported then that has impacts on our staff wellbeing and school culture too!

Adobe Changes | Director Digital Teaching and Learning Linda Lazenby:

Important information for Principals, TSOs, Computer Coordinators and Teaching Staff.

From Term 2, Monday 29th April, there will be changes for schools who need to use Adobe Acrobat Pro and Creative Cloud Products.  

As a result of a new agreement between Adobe and NSW Department of Education, there will be a new process for staff and students who require access to Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Creative Cloud is made up of several Adobe products, including Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere and Acrobat Pro.  

For Creative Cloud licences 

Student Licences: School based staff will be required to apply via EdBuy for licences for your students who use the Adobe Creative Cloud products as part of their subject offerings. This is at no cost to the school. Each student who requires the use of Adobe Creative Cloud, will need their DoE username captured for the provisioning team to assign a licence to each user. Stage 6 students will be prioritised in this allocation process. Licences will be valid for 2 years. Due to limited licence numbers, we ask that schools only apply for students who will be actively utilising the licence as part of their study. 

School based staff Licences: School based staff will be required to apply for a licence via EdConnect. Each staff member who requires the use of Adobe Creative Cloud, will need their username captured for the team to assign a licence to each user. These licences will be valid for 2 years.  

Over the Term 1 school holiday period, we will be deprovisioning ALL Adobe licences used across the NSW Department of Education. Once this is completed, we will then reprovision licences based on application processes described above - via EdBuy for students and EdConnect for staff.  

More information will be provided towards the end of the holidays, once the deprovisioning process has been completed.

All students and staff have will have full access to Adobe Express, which is a web-based tool/package, providing all school users with access to a simplified graphic design toolkit. More information on Adobe Express can be found here. 

The Technology 4 Learning (T4L) team will be providing further support and information to schools via this dedicated web page.  Please complete the form on this page should you need a licence within this interim period, over the school holidays for yourself or a student.

NB: The site is being updated in real time, as in actively being worked on this morning to have the content correct.

Please encourage any Principals that have concerns in regard to this change or need support, to reach out to me directly. linda.lazenby1@det.nsw.edu.au 

Notre Dame Education Lecture Series May 2024 | APPA

The State of Education: a trio of lectures outlining why behaviour still isn’t where it needs to be, and what can we do about it?

The issue of principal and teacher wellbeing and the associated issues of student discipline and behaviour management is front of mind for our sector.  Better classroom management practice can enhance the likelihood of effective learning.

The University of Notre Dame is sponsoring an upcoming series of three free lectures in May by Mr Tom Bennett OBE. 

Tom is the UK's independent classroom behaviour management adviser.

The three lectures are being held in Fremantle (8 May), Sydney (14 May) and Melbourne (16 May), and can be attended in person or online.

Please see the attached registration brochure, as well as information about Tom’s contribution to the global discussion of the issue of supporting teachers to more effectively manage classroom behaviour.

And finally …….

As you walk out your school gate this afternoon – please take a few deep breaths and remind yourself of just how much you have contributed to your school this term and remind yourself that you have been an exceptional leader. Make the most of the next two weeks – get busy resting and recovering – laughing and connecting with your family and friends. Travel safely and take care.

Breath in the reminders of recovery on one of the million emails I receive daily.

On behalf of the NSWPPA Executive and staff – I thank you for being you and what you bring to NSW Public Education. You ARE the difference.

Kindest regards
Robyn
Robyn Evans NSWPPA President.

Something to think about: the rest you need to recover.
Physical Rest | sleep the hours you need, exercise.
Sensory Rest | unplug from devices and switch on to family and friends.
Mental Rest | take breaks and find and celebrate the bright spots in EVERY day.

Emotional Rest | spend time on your own and choose what you do for you at any point in time

Spiritual Rest | meditate, do yoga and connect to land, water and sky.

Creative Rest | listen to and play music, paint, draw, read, sing and dance