Filter Content
- President’s Report
- Sydney Morning Herald Summit
- PPC Meetings
- Strategic Improvement Plans
- Teachers’ Federation Council Meeting- Hon Dr David Gallop
- The Flourish Movement
- Improving student outcomes through Quality Teaching Rounds – A conversation with Jenny Gore University of Newcastle | Immediate Past President Phil Seymour
- COVID-19 Restrictions
- Professional Learning Semester 1- Empowering school leaders through Professional Learning:
- PPC Executive and Professional Support Officers
- Congratulations Phil Seymour – APPA Life Membership
- Ambassador Schools
- Reading and Numeracy Hub- Launch Date Thursday 4 March 2021
- The NSW Primary School Mobile Dental Program
- Key Updates from the NSWPPA Executive
- And finally…..
Week 6 already!
Reflect on all you have covered the past 6 weeks and take a well-deserved breath! YOU are to be congratulated for your EXTRAORDINARY start to Term 1 … Situational Analysis and Strategic Improvement Plan, COVID Intensive Support AND EVERYTHING else – not to mention LEARNING and TEACHING and the wellbeing of students, staff, community and yourself.
It is heartening that with COVID restrictions easing we can again resume meeting in person with a vigilance we can anticipate for the long term. A number of Principals have shared their COVID safety plans for much awaited opportunities to meet with colleagues at both a Network and Primary Principal Council level.
Thank you for the work you do each and every day – I implore you however to be mindful and respectful of yourself. YOU must be conscious of the cognitive load you carry daily and the hours you are investing in your school. Factor in, deliberately plan for and action your own time and your own space where you can be present and the best version of yourself for your family and friends.
Invest in social capital and connect with your colleagues – spend time in nature and step off the marathon track we are on to refill your cup and notice the things that matter so much. It is YOU that lifts the ‘hum’ of your school, the spirit and the focus. Schools are the heart of our communities where we find the richest of learning and teaching – be conscious about finding the bright spots in your day.
m: 0429 547 619
cheers
Robyn Evans
For those of you in attendance and those who joined on line there was great merit in hearing from the keynotes including: Hon Sarah Mitchell: Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning, Mark Scott: Secretary Department of Education, Georgina Harrison: Group Deputy Secretary School , Hon Adrian Piccoli: Professor of Practice UNSW, Dallas McInerney: CEO Catholic Schools NSW, David de Carvalho: CEO ACARA, Paul Martin: CEO NESA, Andy Hargreaves: Director of CHENINE, University of Ottowa, Professor Pasi Sahlberg: Deputy Director of Research Gonski Institute, Julia Davison: CEO Goodstart Early Learning, A/Professor Catherine Neilson: Hewett Academic Director of Early Years UOW, Angelo Gavrielatos: Teachers Federation President, Cameron Paterson: Director of Learning and Teaching Shore School, Alice Leung: Head Teacher Concord High School, Hon Dr Geoff Gallop and Julie Sonneman: School Education Fellow The Grattan Institute, Murat Dizdar: Deputy Secretary School Performance, Pam O’Dea: Principal St Phillip’s Christian College Newcastle, Renee Cooper: Principal Nymbodia PS, Matt Johnson: National President and CEO ASEPA State President SEPLAN and Principal Glenvale School ….. just to name a few.
The day was full of quality presentations, addresses, debate, panel discussion and questions from the floor.
Thank you for the generous invitations to you PPC Meeting and Conferences. Please email me so both your Regional Liaison and I can attend. Looking forward to catching up with every PPC during 2021/22.
Without doubt the time and energy you, your Executive, Teaching and Administrative staff have invested in your Situational Analysis and Strategic Improvement Plan has been PHENOMENAL. I am staggered at the time Principals have invested and the collaborative practices that have been authentically harnessed. Speaking to Principals daily has highlighted the intensity of this work and the value it holds to ensure school targets and rich teaching, learning and leading goals are harnessed and met. I’ve had some fabulous feedback on the role some of the PSL’s have played during this high intensity work. The time you spend looking at your SIP with your DEL is to look at the rubric provided and collaborate on where you are sitting and the goals you are setting. Importantly this conversation is around sharing the school resources you can provide to meet your goals – our DEL’s can support us in suggesting further regional support available.
I have been asked numerous times about the Strategic Improvement Plan being one of your PDP goals. It would make sense for it to be the school’s goal and our teachers and executive would also have specific targets to meet the collective goal. Narrow the focus - make your goals sharp and specific to contribute to the collective.
Teachers’ Federation Council Meeting- Hon Dr David Gallop
I encourage you to take the time to read the independent inquiry: Valuing the Teaching Profession by Hon Dr David Gallop where teachers, parents and principals were interviewed and data collated. This report highlights the fact that now is the time to reset – and the need to make it happen. These links summarise the report and certainly confirm the thoughts and feelings of us in schools. The NSWPPA Executive and I see this confirming what we are currently aware of. We will have this report as a discussion point when we meet with the Minister and Secretary this term.
I would like to thank Angelo Gavrielatos President Teachers Federation for his invitation to both Craig Petersen SPC President and myself.
A number of PPC’s are working with Dr Adam Fraser and his team on the Flourish Movement. Principals too are presenting Flourish for Schools to ensure their staff are capturing the importance of social capital. Without doubt WE need to make conscious decisions about our own health and wellbeing to manage and lead our schools AS WELL AS being present and happy with our family and friends. I encourage you to consider this rich Professional Learning – the skills acquired are proving life changing – professionally and personally for many.
Excitingly the NSWPPA will be presenting Stewart House with a cheque for $7,500 next week. This is the money we collected from the Term 4 2020 Professional Learning we offered in conjunction with the Flourish Movement – Dr Adam Fraser: ‘Your Wellbeing Matters’. I would again like to extend my thanks for your participation and your $20 contribution. I know Stewart House Principal Steve Smith and the Board will be truly appreciative.
Quality Teaching Rounds (QTR) is professional development that makes a significant difference for teachers and students. QTR is relevant for teachers in every subject area, working in every grade, at every career stage.
A 2019 randomised controlled trial found that the students whose teachers participated in QTR achieved 25 per cent additional growth in mathematics, with greater improvements demonstrated in disadvantaged schools. QTR has also been shown to improve the quality of teaching, teacher morale and school culture.
In October 2020, the University of Newcastle launched its Quality Teaching Academy to help deliver Quality Teaching Rounds to more teachers across Australia. The Quality Teaching Academy empowers teachers to enrich student learning.
In recognition of a long-term partnership with the NSW Department of Education, NSW public school teachers can access FREE membership to the Quality Teaching Academy.
Schools can begin their engagement with Quality Teaching Rounds by supporting at least two teachers to participate in a two-day workshop. The Department is funding two places per school, if not already accessed. More information and the current workshop schedule can be found here.
It is likely restrictions will be further reduced for schools in line with current Public Health Advice. However, in the event you are planning a PPC Meeting or Conference please include this advice from the Health and Safety Directorate as you will need to consider school operational impact also. If a person at the meeting/conference venue or at the hotel you are staying was to test positive, it is likely all attendees would be deemed a close contact and would need to self-isolate for a 14 day period.
This would mean all those attending would need to have in place arrangements for them not to be able to attend school in case this was to occur. It is important to have this provision in place and have it communicated to your Leadership Team.
Professional Learning Semester 1- Empowering school leaders through Professional Learning:
The following two successful programs will once again be provided through 2021. Feedback from participants last year has highlighted the benefits of this outstanding online professional learning for school leaders.
Please click on the links provided to get more information and register your interest.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Leading at the Speed of Trust
PPC Executive and Professional Support Officers
From time to time we hit a bump in the road and face professional challenges. Please ensure you reach out to your PPC Executive for local support and inquiries. The NSWPPA Professional Support Officers Wendy Buckley 0403 560 814, Phil Seymour 0412 673 378 and Geoff Scott 0427 451 359 are readily available to offer wise counsel and access key DoE personnel to support you.
All support is provided in the strictest of confidence. Please take the time to look out for each other and reach out to either your local PPC or our PSO’s. Please feel free to call me at any time should you need direction to who may be best positioned to support you.
Congratulations Phil Seymour – APPA Life Membership
Join me in congratulating Phil Seymour Immediate Past President on being awarded APPA Life Membership by Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge MP supported by Tanya Plibersek. This is a most deserving acknowledgement of service and advocacy for Public Education.
Primary and Secondary schools identifying strong results and expected NAPLAN growth in key areas including reading and numeracy along with positive school attendance averages have been identified as Ambassador Schools. The first of these schools have been announced: - Milthorpe PS, Auburn North PS and Fairvale HS.
These schools from both metropolitan and regional areas with a range of socio-economic contexts, will be invited to share their stories and practices in order to scale them across the system. Sharing practice is the greatest value to system improvement.
Reading and Numeracy Hub- Launch Date Thursday 4 March 2021
An exciting launch this week with the online hub of evidence based resources and tools for Reading and Numeracy going live. The hub will continue to be added to for our school leaders and teachers to access, providing clarity and assist with high quality resources.
The NSW Primary School Mobile Dental Program
PSMDP provides free dental checkups and basic dental care for children in public primary schools. Currently this service is available to public primary schools in Western Sydney, Mid North Coast and Central coast.
Please see the attached flyer for more information
Key Updates from the NSWPPA Executive
Support Class Placement Panels| Deputy President Rob Walker
As you are aware new procedures relating to the operation of the Support Class Placement Panels have been released. The Department has approached the NSWPPA to finalise representation on these panels. We have been asked to identify:
- Nominated representative
- Alternate representative
- SSP representative
- Alternate SSP representative
The SSP representative (and alternates can be a Principal or a Deputy Principal). The names of these representatives need to be agreed between the NSWPPA and NSWSPC. Our Area Presidents have been asked to identify the names of the above representatives for each panel.
After a period of time operating with the new procedures the Department intends capturing feedback on the performance of the procedures. You may have already spotted some feedback but as the term proceeds, make a note to share your thoughts when the feedback opportunity is presented.
Finance and Human Resource Management in SAP Training| Vice President Michael Burgess
The Finance and Administration Reference Group continues to work hard to advocate for Principals and work to provide support for colleagues. Finance and HR management is an important aspect of operational management of the school. There are a number of online courses to support Principals and executive teams. These courses can be found at:
Staff Access to Applications| Vice President Michael Burgess
Previously Principals have provided access to portal applications to staff by accessing the AMU (Access Management Utility) on the portal.
A new process is being implemented to save Principals work. Staff can now request access using the Manage My Access app on the portal. They will choose the apps they want to have access to, this will generate an email to the Principal and the Principal will click accept or reject in the email. This saves the Principal going into AMU, searching for the staff member, finding the appropriate app and ticking the boxes to give access. It is just one click for the Principal.
Principals will be able to go in and manage application access using the new 'Manage Staff Access' application - so you can remove access of someone who has left the school.
Both the old AMU and the new MSM and MMA will be available for the time being to give time for people to become use to the new process.
Work is also continuing to improve the automatic role access so that when a person is appointed to your school they receive access to apps based on their role, reducing the need to manually give access.
You can add the MMA and MSA to your portal home page.
Membership of the NSWPPA| Treasurer Gregory Grinham
For information regarding membership of the Association, please contact Gregory Grinham ggrinham@nswppa.org.au or Lisa Beare admin@nswppa.org.au. Following State Council, Treasurers from all PPC’s will be invited to a ZOOM/TEAMS meeting to discuss all matters of ‘treasury’.
Asset Management Update| Vice President Stuart Wylie
There have been 1600 projects approved in the first two rounds of the School Renewal Program (co-Funded) as part of the Government's COVID-19 stimulus package. It looks like there will be money left over after the first two rounds so there is potential for a third round to be offered.
Covid ISLP Tutoring Staffing Issues| Vice President Michael Trist
Many schools have experienced difficulties in accessing personnel to act as tutors for this program. Some principals have expressed frustration that they have not been able to employ SLSOs for their vacant positions.
The PPA has learned that if particular SLSOs currently employed in our schools have sufficient skills and experiences, in some cases they may qualify to be employed as para-professionals. If this may help your school, ring the Covid ISLP Tutoring hotline on 1300 338679 for further details.
Access Requests, Disability Royal Inclusive Education| Vice President Trish Peters
Great news that the DoE has design team working on reforming the IT system for the access request process! The group working on the project has secured funding from the government’s Digital Restart Fund and hopes to develop its business case and secure funding in May or June. Their focus is on the designing the right thing and designing things right so there has been significant consultation with many groups including our own Graeme McLeod. We will look forward to a big change to the clunky, linear process we currently follow and a big reduction to the admin burden. Hopefully, it works with our other older systems like ERN.
Suspensions got a big hearing in the Royal Commission with the chair noting that “it was not enough to acknowledge a student’s age or disability when reviewing a suspension decision”, and that “there was a lack of consistency and reasonable adjustments need to be in place BEFORE a suspension”. In addition, the chair noted that “DoE processes don’t provide instruction how to access or determine that reasonable adjustments have been put in place”. The commission findings and the Behaviour Strategy Review are significant drivers of the design of future procedures around suspension and the PPA is definitely at the table in the co-design of the new policy directions.
Principals should promote the DoE Inclusive Learning Support Parent Hub in their school communities. The site has amazing parent-friendly resources to access for children with disability and additional learning and support needs as their families start their school journeys.
Direct Management Action| Secretary Greg McLaren
Direct Management Action has largely replaced Fair Warning Fair Action. It is a collection of processes to address minor misconduct by staff as advised in the Code of Conduct. Misconduct is generally defined as unacceptable or improper behaviour. Depending on the type of misconduct, Principals would usually manage minor misconduct by staff at school level rather than the matter be investigated by PES*. PES would become directly involved in the event a letter of direction has been ignored. Your DEL should provide you with guidance in addressing misconduct by staff.
*Professional and Ethical Standards (PES) directorate is the new name for the former EPaC.
Principals are encouraged to read further about how to address minor misconduct issues on the PES website. Listed are proactive, responsive and restorative resources and strategies. A link also provides definitions of various types of misconduct and where appropriate how to write a ‘letter of direction’.
NSWPPA Legal Issues Standing Committee welcomes Principal feedback about whether Direct Management Action did or did not assist with addressing minor misconduct activity at your school.
On behalf of the NSWPPA State Executive – Rob Walker, Bob Willetts, Michael Burgess, Jude Hayman, Trish Peters, Norma Petrocco, Michael Trist, Stuart Wylie, Greg McLaren, Gregory Grinham, Mark Pritchard and Lisa Beare I wish you another productive week. Take care of you and your colleagues. Reach out this week and check in on someone.
Robyn Evans
NSWPPA President