Aboriginal Reference Group Reminders | Vice President Jude Hayman:

The 2021 Nanga Mai Awards will be held online next Wednesday 1st December from 11am and will showcase the best of the best in Aboriginal Education across the State. Our colleagues have awesome programs happening in their schools. This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our schools, staff and students!

Please email paul.byrne@det.nsw.edu.au any suggestions you may have about online resources that could be created to assist you to support students, staff or community in following protocols for acknowledging Aboriginal events etc.

Digital Leadership in Education | Vice President Jude Hayman:

Please find a reading link suggested to you by the combined brains of our Technology RG Chair, Drew Janetzki and Leadership SC Chair, Cath Larkman. The reading provides an opportunity to reflect on our leadership over the past two years as well as what lies ahead.

Pillars of Digital Leadership by Eric Sheninger https://leadered.com/pillars-of-digital-leadership/ 

The Big Three are Coming | Vice President Trish Peters:

From Term 1 2022, schools will be in the familiarisation phase of three large pieces of work -  inclusive education, restrictive practices and behaviour. The Big 3 are interdependent and will be implemented from Term 2. The implications for workload and professional learning for principals and schools are significant.

As yet, there is not detailed information around the support that will be available during Term 1 to prepare for implementation and school-based policy and procedure development.

However, members of the Student Wellbeing Reference Group, along with the SSP and Disabilities Reference Groups, have been involved in multiple opportunities to collaborate and co-design across a range of important areas including in-school suspension, timely return from suspension, early intervention and universal strategic support for primary schools in the whole-school wellbeing space.

Some key recommendations from the PPA to these consulting groups are:

• In-school suspension (ISS) should be renamed and NOT included in the suspension procedures.
• Any form of ISS should be an option based on function of behaviour, school context – both personnel and suitable accommodation, risk management. An ISS pilot will be undertaken in 2022.
• Timely return from suspension must be assisted by quick access to support in the form of personnel, resources and PL.

The SWRG, led by Helen Craigie, is of the opinion that the two proposed categories for suspension, and their application, will give MORE flexibility to principals when considering suspending a student.

We can also see that our input into co-design sessions is valued and listened to and can see a number of changes that we have recommended to draft documents over the period of consultation, considered and implemented. The NSWPPA voice has been heard!

The Tailoring health and wellbeing approaches at your school provides principals with information and resources to support school improvement planning. There are easy to use checklists and guidelines that will support schools to self-assess and plan approaches to prepare for the development of a school’s behaviour plan across the continuum of care.

The SSPRG, led by Mark Gosbell, has been relentless in its pursuit of betterments in staffing and health and safety for principals in our most complex settings. They have advocated for the role of the APCI in SSPs and we look forward to the innovative ways that the new position will be implemented.

There’s a lot of change headed our way under the direction of the Disability Strategy – changes to disability criteria more closely aligned with the International Classification of Disability; a functional needs approach to IFS to replace the current medical model of diagnosis and new tools to assess progress for student with disability.

Lots of important, and needed change, coming our way in 2022 – so Relax in the holidays before you Reflect and Reset – and best wishes for a brilliant start to a new school year!

New English and Mathematics Syllabuses Now Available | Vice President Norma Petrocco

NESA’s Digital CurriculumExternal link hosts the new syllabuses and the NESA websiteExternal link contains information for teachers, students and parents on the new Digital Curriculum, NESA’s syllabus development process and details on the new syllabuses.

The department’s website will be progressively updated with implementation support resources.

How will schools be supported with implementation of new syllabuses?

As recently communicated on Staff Noticeboard, there will be a three-tiered implementation support model with schools:

• Accelerated Adopter schools have been identified through an evidence-based process and in consultation with DELs. These schools will implement the new syllabus for their Year 1 cohort in 2022. They will also co-design implementation support by providing advice and feedback on support resources.
• Self-selected schools have opted in to implement the new syllabus for their Year 1 cohort in 2022.
• Other schools will dedicate 2022 to familiarisation and preparation.

English and mathematics K-2 syllabuses will be taught in all NSW schools from 2023.

SRE and SEE | Vice President Michael Trist:

The PPA is working with the NSWTF, P&C & SPC to identify improvements to how Special Religious Education and Special Education in Ethics are implemented in NSW public schools. We continue to consult with DoE personnel to determine whether meaningful change can occur within the current legislation, or if political action is required. Stay tuned.

Thankyou | Treasurer Gregory Grinham:

Thank you to our wonderful PPC Treasurers who have served their Councils thoroughly throughout 2021, ensuring that the Business Activity Statements (BAS) and Annual Financial Reports have been prepared and submitted within a timely fashion.

I wish all a very peaceful break for the coming Christmas and Holiday period; and look forward to working with them in 2022.

Primary Principal Council Membership | Executive Officer Mark Pritchard:

A number of Principal colleagues have made enquiries with the Executive about moving from one PPC. Schools are aligned with PPC Groups across NSW. Historically, these have been arranged geographically so that all PPCs are functional. As custodians of our school sites we are aligned to specific PPC’s.

Occasionally, there has been a member moved from one PPC to another for extenuating circumstances. Unfortunately, this is not as easy as some would believe as by stacking PPC’s with many colleagues it actually weakens the operation of another. Whilst we understand the requests regarding working with community of schools’ colleagues, friends, proximity to your home, we are not always in a position to approve the requested moves.

All requests are taken to the Executive to consider and review. We aim to honour the operationalisation of the Association.

Please note:
6.7.1 "Area Primary Principals' Councils will operate across the state. Their prime function is to be the peak advisory body on matters related to primary education for their area."

6.7.2.3 "The Area Council will:
provide a regular forum for the discussion of educational leadership and management, professional development and welfare matters pertaining to Primary Principals within their area"

And finally…..

On behalf of the NSWPPA Executive – Rob Walker, Bob Willetts, Michael Burgess, Jude Hayman, Trish Peters, Norma Petrocco, Michael Trist, Stuart Wylie, Greg McLaren, Gregory Grinham, Mark Pritchard, Lisa Beare and Margaret Charlton I wish you all a wonderful end of term, remember, the goal is to run across the finish line or at least walk at a brisk rate ! Channel your energy into your priorities and enjoy the last few weeks of term 4.

The Term 4 State Council Meeting was a brilliant demonstration of collaboration and partnership. The nature of the business of the Association is proactive, responsive, timely and informed. The work of the State Executive, Reference Groups, Standing Committees and Working Parties reflect that. There are times too we react to issues emerging and in those circumstances, we ask WHY and HOW it improves the teaching learning and leading in our schools. We are very much solution focussed and come to the table to explore possibilities and walk away with a commitment of action forward.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thankyou and appreciation for the work YOU do in your school for your staff, your students and your community. Your leadership is to be commended and applauded. YOUR voice is heard through your PPC meetings and brought forward by your Delegate and President. Your Delegate has a pivotal role in ensuring context and PPC specific issues are addressed through our RG |WP|SC groups. I acknowledge the incredible leadership of the Executive in the 43 PPC’s across NSW. Thank YOU for your invaluable contribution to your PPC meetings – the strength of this Association is about relational leadership. Thank you for the part you play.

Our Chairpersons and their group members work in key areas of leadership for the Association. The State Executive are the Liaisons for each of these groups and drive the voice in all forums we sit with DoE personnel.

Our Professional Learning Officer drives and leads the rich suite of professional learning for the membership. The Professional Support Officers reach out to our colleagues to navigate departmental support and offer agency for them in solving issues arising. Our Executive Assistant and Executive Officer play a key role in the administration of the Association and support the Executive in all endeavours.

Every role in the Association has a colleague with great integrity and passion for the business of the Association – a strong belief in Public Education and a strong and respected voice to ensure Government and Departmental policies and practices land in schools purposefully to support teaching. Leading and learning in every Primary School.

I am very, very proud to lead this team and work in partnership with them for every member of the NSW Primary Principals Association.

Week 8 … just a few weeks to go … whilst planning the festive season with your family and friends seems a way off yet, remember YOU need to have the energy to enjoy the festivities. MAKE TIME EVERYDAY to recharge – YOU MATTER.

Robyn
Robyn Evans
NSWPPA President