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- President’s Report
- NSWPPA Credential
- The Phoenix Conference | Bushfire Relief Strategy
- Role of the Contact Person in your PPC
- CESE Survey | Lucy Snowball A/Director Evaluation and Effectiveness | Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation | Education and Skills Reform
- Initiative coming our way | Support in compliance and readiness for audit
- News.T4L – issue 72 | NSW DoE | Information Technology Directorate | Important reading for you
- State Executive Meeting | Term 2 Week 2:
- NSWPPA Annual Conference
- Professional Learning - Semester 2
- Transforming Education | Miranda Jefferson and Michael Anderson
- LEAP Dinner | Warren Marks
- 2021 Reconciliation Through Education ‘Yes We Can” 17& 18 May – Sydney Masonic Centre 66 Goulburn Street Sydney
- Key Updates from the NSWPPA Executive
- And finally…..
The term 2 calendar is well underway and I KNOW the pace with which this term has started for Principals and their staff. Excitingly many Primary Principals’ Councils have already connected for face to face meetings and there is a real sense of reconnection. I ask you check in on each other and prioritise the opportunities presenting to connect in person where possible. There is no greater strength in the principalship than reaching out to each other.
Whilst we are all ‘getting on with it’ and operationalising our Strategic Improvement Plan it is critical you plan for self-care – YOU must model this for your staff and your colleagues. How you show up and operate sets the tone and others look to you – YOU set the culture of what matters most – leading, teaching and learning is leveraged by the wellbeing of our communities.
Looking forward to seeing some of you at upcoming PPC Executive Meetings, PPC Meetings and Regional Conferences. Where possible the Executive Liaison for your region will also be happy to attend your meetings.
Two stand out forums I have attended and engaged in this term have been NSWPPA Credential and the Phoenix Conference.
The term opened with the NSWPPA Credential. The room was electric – so much energy, commitment, authenticity and passion for leadership. Congratulations to Margaret Charlton, Graeme Ross and the brilliant facilitators for leading with such clarity and purpose. This professional learning is one of the jewels in the suite offered by the NSWPPA. Professional learning for the Association by the Association - Principals leading professional learning for Principals and aspiring leaders. Our friend and colleague Anne McIntyre inspired yet another generation of leaders in our system. Excitingly, the data and impact story of this program will be shared in the NSWPPA Business Meeting at the NSWPPA State Conference in October. Anne gave me insight to the data from the past eight years. The evidence of impact is remarkable. It is something the founders and membership can be truly proud of. Two representatives from your PPC will be in attendance is the Business Meeting. Information will be shared back in your PPC in term 4.
The Phoenix Conference | Bushfire Relief Strategy
What a brilliant DoE initiative. Congratulations to Kathy Powzun Executive Director Bushfire Relief Strategy, Mark Thomson and Sue French Principals in Residence and the entire team for this brilliant forum for our colleagues affected by the 2019/20 bushfires.
This Conference was designed by the Principals in these areas – they were invited to voice what they needed and the conference organisers responded accordingly. For many colleagues, this was the first time they had had the opportunity to really share their story. The spirit in the room was palatable – it was filled with hope and optimism – it was about the ravaging fires and the plight of schools, students, families and communities at large. It was about healing and recovering and rejuvenation. There was acknowledgement of the journey everyone is on. There was a shared understanding of time. Human spirit – care, kindness, support, conversation response and voice galvanised this forum. The key note line up included:
- NSW Minister for Education | Sarah Mitchell
- General Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove
- Commissioner |Shane Fitzsimmons
- Acting Secretary | Georgina Harrison
- Deputy Secretary School Performance South | Murat Dizdar
Kristen Douglas National Manager of HeadSpace punctuated much of her presentation with recommendations and comments by stating ‘you can’t be giving from an empty bucket’ – ‘you can’t talk it and not do it’. Our roles in school are key to the organisation – SELF CARE must be on your agenda regardless of what is on the DoE agenda. YOU are IMPORTANT. The initiatives and programs offered by HeadSpace for primary and secondary schools have continued to strengthen the skills and strategies for our students, communities and staff alike.
The NSWPPA Executive and I felt privileged to attend the Conference with colleague Principals, PSL’s, DELS, ED’s and senior DoE personnel. Our colleagues’ stories shared were truly remarkable – it is without doubt a testament to the human spirit of leaders in schools that following natural disaster, pandemic, critical incidents we face every new day with courage and resilience. It was also most apparent how much the DoE and PPA support was valued. It made the different for our school communities and our colleague Principals.
The ‘Adopt a School’ project initiated by Phil Seymour NSWPPA Past President saw non-affected schools reach out to bushfire, drought and flood affected schools and colleagues in many ways – the stories from the floor filled my heart – kindness and generosity underpinned each and every story. Our affected school colleagues were really touched by the generosity of schools and colleagues they didn’t even know. Leah Martin President Batemans Bay PPC and Principal Pambula PS was instrumental in leading the charge identifying schools in the initial iteration of the Adopt a School Program. Credit to Phil and Leah for the initiative and those of us that got on board and embraced the Public Education family.
THANK YOU everyone for wrapping such support around our colleagues and those who continue to do so. Thank you too to the 43 PPC’s who so generously donated books to schools at the Term 4 2019 State Council Meeting. Humbled by the collective support were our colleagues. The other thing that struck me was the support afforded our colleague Principals by their own school staff – yes, a given you would say but… to hear the way colleagues spoke about their Principal’s leadership as the fires approached, during the height of the fire and the aftermath and ongoing practice exemplified the sense of team and purpose. Never underestimate how we show up matters.
I joined the panel opening day 2 of the conference comprising: Sarah Parker Bobin PS, Angelo Gavrielatos President NSW Teachers Federation, Denise Lofts Principal Ulladulla HS and Kathy Powzun Executive Director Bushfire Strategy. Kristen Douglas hosted the panel session where we shared our stories about impact of this event, leadership during and post the fires, healing and hope, prioritising your own self care so you can lead and support others and maintaining balance. It was deeply personal and profoundly hopeful. Every colleague has their own story – Kristen asked the forum to share their story about how they prioritise self-care and staying balanced so you can lead and support others. Colleagues were incredibly generous in doing so – finding joy in music, art, reading, gathering with family and friends and playing sport. Deannie Nichols Principal Nan Glen PS shared her FLOURISH journey – her learning & her staff engagement in FLOURISH for Schools and the impact of the program not only for the staff but how it in turn positively impacted on the students and the broader school community. If you have not already engaged in the Flourish Movement I encourage you to take a look at this brilliant professional learning. This PL is so much more than a ‘program’. As a result of the collation of your personal data collection and the professional and personal lifestyle changes you will acquire, refine and hone a remarkable set of skills to apply to both your professional and personal life – it is about finding joy in what you do and how and why you do it when you are under pressure.
A huge congratulations to the organising team and all colleagues in attendance at this conference. The Bushfire Relief Strategy supports emergency planning, response and recovery management within NSW learning communities. The strategy has been instrumental in communities recovering from bushfire, drought and most recently flood.
Role of the Contact Person in your PPC
I would like to acknowledge and thank those of you who have stepped into the role of PPC contact person for the NSWPPA Reference Groups. This role is a leverage point for your PPC.
Your PPC is represented by a regional member on the Reference Group. By now, you would be on a distribution list and receiving minutes from the term meetings held. At your PPC Meeting you are required to present the report for PPC’s. If you wish to clarify the report, you are invited to phone or email your regional representative. Likewise, if your PPC would like clarity on a matter or to present an issue (formal issues are to be sent to Vice President Michael Burgess through your PPC President or Delegate) please contact your regional representative. Your regional representative is listed on the NSWPPA website under Reference Groups.
I followed up on some concerns expressed about the completion of CESE surveys in general. Lucy Snowball was generous in offering some contextual information.
CESE treats all survey responses confidentially and will not pass them on to any third party, unless required by law.
- They aggregate all responses to protect anonymity, so that individual responses are not identifiable when reporting.
- They may link this survey data to other departmental data and report select aggregated results at Principal Network, School Performance Directorate and/or State level to internal department audiences only.
- They have strict threshold rules to ensure anonymity when reporting at the Principal Network level – they do not report on any Network where less than 10 principals responded (out of a total ~ 20).
- They do not report any information that identifies which principals have or have not responded to the survey.
- Their dedicated survey delivery team will conduct all analysis and reporting for the survey this year, applying all our key data governance learnings.
For example, CESE do not intend on reporting on response rates or demographic information to further anonymise responses. CESE will carefully consider any reporting of questions of sub-groups (eg questions only applicable for secondary principals) at the PN level.
Initiative coming our way | Support in compliance and readiness for audit
I am giving you the heads up on a proactive and responsive piece of work coming our way. Finer details are to come but I was invited into a meeting regarding state wide findings following school audits in the areas to do with safety – student and staff. The audit directorate has long spoken about the inconsistencies in these particular areas. The areas of WWC, Child Protection, WHS and Student Attendance.
We are all too aware of the complexities and rigour around these areas. School Performance is taking this on to reduce the administrative burden for leaders in schools responsible for this area of compliance. Training and support will be provided under School Performance and delivered like a VET audit. In essence we will be provided with a sheet of requirements in those areas and have several weeks to prepare, access support where required and have it in order so that when the auditor is in we are better positioned to meet the requirements. Auditors will not be able to request anything outside the requirements stated. The PL model will be similar to the ‘bites’ model (short and succinct). Later this term, DELs will be trained and they will be presenting the ‘bites’ at upcoming network meetings in term 3 and 4. Our SAM’s/SAO’s/BM’s will also attend with us (where relevant). SCOUT will house the data and DEL’s will be required to sign off annually.
Compliance is often an area that consumes much of our time – School Performance are endeavouring to streamline the process and provide consistency and safety for students and staff. I will keep you updated as detail is shared.
News.T4L – issue 72 | NSW DoE | Information Technology Directorate | Important reading for you
A number of colleagues have alerted me to a potential confidentiality issue. I have taken the advice directly from News.T4L – issue 72
If you or a member of your staff have entered their personal mobile number into their user profile section of their Staff Portal, you are to be aware that the number is potentially visible students in Microsoft Teams. When you hover over any staff member’s avatar in Teams a panel appears showing their user profile. If you’ve included your personal mobile number in your Staff Portal profile, it will appear in Teams. If you not wish to have this number appear:
- Go to Staff Portal and click the down arrow at the top –right
- Select Update my profile and REMOVE the mobile number
- Then click Save Profile at the bottom
State Executive Meeting | Term 2 Week 2:
Last Thursday and Friday the NSWPPA State Executive met to discuss NSWPPA business and plan for the Week 7 State Council Meeting. A most productive meeting discussing issues, concern, business and action forward. Many thanks to the Executive team for their incredible work for NSW Primary Principals – above and beyond their own schools.
Accommodation update for 2021 Annual Conference at The Star.
If you are intending to book accommodation at The Star, consider doing so in the next 4 weeks.
The rates:
$300 for 17, 18 October
$320 for 19, 20, 21, 22 October.
Please be advised this is still subject to availability, and if this rate is no longer available you will need to book the best available rate on the website. At present The Star has approximately 400 rooms available at this rate.
When completing DoE travel applications and paying by PCard, Directors can only sign off on up to $324-45 per night for accommodation in Sydney.
Cancellation policy:
Bookings can be cancelled or modified up until 30 days prior to arrival date. 100% cancellation charge applies for any changes including shortening your stay within 30 days of arrival date.
Booking Method:
Booking code remains the same - NSW181021
If you have already booked, please check your rate, and cancel then re-book if necessary.
Kylie Donovan
Conference Convener
Professional Learning - Semester 2
With the easing of restrictions around our professional learning, the PPA is able to move forward with the face to face professional learning opportunities. An overview of these programs is attached. The schedule of dates for all programs will be distributed through the PPA email in the coming week. As each course is opened for registrations course information flyers and links will be provided on the PPA website (NSW Primary Principals' Association (nswppa.org.au)) under the Professional Learning tab. Information will also be provided to your PPC President and Delegate at each State Council meeting and through PPA email.
We are excited to showcase our new professional learning facility in Ultimo. We will begin to run programs centrally from this venue from Term 3. We will still respond to local need and will bring programs to local areas through the year.
Transforming Education | Miranda Jefferson and Michael Anderson
On Thursday 27 May Dr Miranda Jefferson and Professor Michael Anderson will be launching their new book: Transforming Education: Reimagining Learning, Pedagogy and Curriculum. They draw together examples of practice from around the world including Australia, France, New Zealand and Spain to provide a reimaging of education. The book will be launched by Pasi Sahlberg who has written widely about pedagogy, teachers, teaching and education system change. You can join the launch in person at The University of Sydney - 6-8pm or via ZOOM. Register now on the below link.
Please find attached a warm invitation from Warren Marks and Sue Lazenby to the 3rd Annual Leap Dinner – 17 May 2021.
An email has been sent previously on April 21. Please consider this fabulous opportunity in Sydney.
Key Updates from the NSWPPA Executive
Support Class Placement Panels | Deputy President Rob Walker
Thanks to the members who have stepped forward to represent on the newly formed support class placement panels. The panels have a position for a primary principal representative, a high school principal representative and an SSP principal representative. The Department sought out the PPA to manage the process of identifying the principal representative for primary and SSP positions (SSP representatives agreed to by SPC leadership). Alternates for each of the representative roles were also identified. SSP positions may be filled by either principals or DPs from SSPs. The people placed in these roles have two year terms, so it is anticipated their terms will conclude end of term 1, 2023. By now all representatives should have been trained and the panels functioning.
Inclusive Access Project | Deputy President Rob Walker
The Department has established a project team to bring together an online platform for planning and managing each student’s support needs. The success measures for the project are
- Increase the quality of requests for support
- Reduce time to receive support
- Reduce time required for completion of support requests
- Reduce delays and deferrals of decisions
- Improve quality support outcomes for students
- Improve the experience for parents, schools and office staff
At this point the project team have brought together an understanding of the types of information gathered at school and system level and the processes currently used.
There have been meetings with stakeholders to assess priorities areas for process improvement and have developed some concepts about what the online platform might incorporate and to a degree how it might look and feel. Recently the PPA has identified schools to take part in a collaboration process to shape the next phase of development of the platform. The final product has the promise of bringing together information we hold in a variety of locations at the moment, and improve the process we use.
Principal Health and Wellbeing | Deputy President Bob Willetts
The Principal sets the wellbeing culture of the school, and often the community.
Every year since 2011 the Australian Principal Occupational Health and Wellbeing Survey has recommended Principals prioritise their own health and wellbeing.
The best examples we are seeing are when Principals are involving their teams in the learning process to enhance the wellbeing culture.
Wellbeing tips
“Sharpen The Saw”
Participants in the PPA Covey 7 Habits Program are learning that their wellbeing is a “Big Rock” that must be scheduled into their week.
Principals in the course this term have scheduled things like; morning walks, gym programs, playing music, reading and paining.
What Lights You Up?
Do Something Every Week That Recharges You.
Participants in the PPA Flourish Program are ensuring that they schedule something that lights them up and energises them. There have been some amazing examples of how our colleagues have enhanced their leadership by ensuring they are physical, mentally and emotionally recharged so they have more in the tank to give.
The things that energise us are related to our passions, purpose and nourish our mind, body and soul.
Take a moment to reflect on what lights you up and put it in your diary this week.
Growing Up Digital | Deputy President Bob Willetts
Gonski Institute’s latest research sheds light on the impact of technology on family life.
“A new research report by the Gonski Institute for Education reveals digital media and technologies as a great distraction in Australian family life.
More than 9 out of 10 parents think digital devices negatively distract their own lives, and 83% think their children are also negatively distracted by digital gadgets.”
The full research and technical report can be found here:
Carry Forward Policy | Vice President Michael Burgess
Over the last few years and particularly in the last 12 months the Finance and Administration Reference Group (FARG) has been highlighting the issues related to a restrictive carry forward policy.
As you would be aware a Carry Forward Policy was recently released. The final policy does not reflect the advice and feedback provided from the NSWPPA. The vast majority of primary schools manage their funds well to ensure the efficient application of resources to maximise student outcomes.
It is important to note that the Carry Forward Policy only relates to government funds in the 6100 State Consolidated Fund (and temporarily also 6101 funds).
We are pleased that we were able to have the ability for Principals to apply to carry forward funds for specific projects included in the policy. The allowance of a small ‘contingency’ amount to carry forward each year for the next three years is welcomed but should be a permanent part of the policy.
The policy of a hard $0 carry forward amount from 2025 onwards is unacceptable and unworkable. The concept that schools can accurately, given the variables, arrive at zero dollars in the 6100 fund on 31st December is not feasible.
We support the premise that government funding should be spent on students in the year in which the funding is provided. We also acknowledge that some schools have carried forward funds without a clear plan to spend that money.
This, however, should not prevent Principals, in consultation with their school communities, planning to carry forward funds to purchase significant resources or undertake infrastructure works.
The policy should also take into account that the DoE systems in place currently do not support Principals in reaching a zero carry forward amount. Funds from SFLM, workers compensation and other programs can arrive in school accounts late in the year. On the other side invoices can arrive late in the year for payment.
The FARG will continue to push senior departmental officers to review the Carry Forward Policy.
Some Key Notes:
- Schools need to plan to spend their full SBAR funding in the year that it was provided. (Spend 6100 first)
- Schools may still carry forward funds in the 6300 School and Community fund.
- There is support available from the strategic schools resourcing field team to help Principals with budgeting.
- Schools will still be able to apply to their DEL to carry forward funds for a specific purpose.
NSWPPA Awards | Vice President Jude Hayman
Every year we have the honour to recognise the work of our colleagues through the nomination and selection of recipients of the following awards which are presented to the successful recipients at the NSWPPA State Conference;
Awards are
- LIFE MEMBERSHIP or FELLOWSHIP
- DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
- PROFESSIONAL AWARD
- ABORIGINAL EDUCATION AWARD
- SOCIAL JUSTICE / EQUITY AWARD
Please see the attached document for nomination criteria and submission information
ACARA Review of the Australian Curriculum – Open for Public Comment| Vice President Norma Petrocco
The proposed revisions to the Australian Curriculum for Foundation – Year 10 (F–10) have been released for public comment.
During our consultation session last year, over the last 9 months ACARA’s review process has involved teachers and curriculum experts from all states and territories and the government and non-government sectors.
Proposed changes include:
- significantly improving the content descriptions and achievement standards – the core curriculum that teachers use to plan, teach and assess learning - by simplifying expression, explaining requirements more clearly and reducing ambiguity
- reducing content across the primary school curriculum with greater consistency and coherence in organisation, language and expectations across all learning areas
- content identified specifically for the Foundation year in each learning area, making clear the expectations for students in the important first year of school
- improving the content elaborations – the illustrations and examples of ways to teach the content – to show how the teaching and learning of the learning area content can be supported using the general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities.
The proposed revisions to the Australian Curriculum will be available for public comment from 29 April until 8 July 2021. Feedback and input will be used to develop final revisions for consideration of education ministers.
School communities – teachers, executives, parents, and students - are encouraged to review the proposed revisions and give feedback via the new consultation website
The updated version of the F-10 Australian Curriculum, once approved by Ministers, will be made available on a new Australian Curriculum website for the start of 2022.
Scripture and Ethics Classes| Vice President Michael Trist
The implementation of SRE and SEE classes in our schools is a sensitive issue, but it that does arise in conversations with members. The NSWPPA State Executive seek your input via the following short survey to help us determine if further investigation is required.
Communications and Engagement Standing Committee | Vice President Stuart Wylie
Providing great news content about your school is easy on Twitter and many schools are utilising social media as part of their communication strategy. Andrew Smee Principal of Kangaroo Valley Public School has taken over as manager of the @NSWPPA Twitter account. If you are doing something amazing at your school and would like Andrew to re-tweet content then alert him by using #NSWPPA to notify Andrew.
School Website Training – Communications & Engagement Standing Committee would like to plug the new changes to the school website which is easy to use.
You can enrol to attend a School website training – Adobe Experience Manager (online) training session via MyPL (course code NR26389) under the Staff Portal.
Legends and Lessons, Find Them Remember Them Missing Medals Project| Vice President Stuart Wylie
Schools are being invited to participate in the Find Them Remember Them Missing Medal ANZAC pilot project. This is a great initiative for schools to acknowledge and reconnect families of fallen soldiers with their unissued medals. Please see the attached flyer for more information
Secretary Mark Scott and Michael Waterhouse General Counsel Legal Services were both farewelled in the past few weeks. We acknowledge and thank them both for their contribution to Public Education. State Executive members were in attendance and forwarded the memberships best wishes for future endeavours.
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 fabulous term 2. Looking forward to seeing you in upcoming meetings and remember I am only a call or email away.
Kind regards
rob
Robyn Evans
NSWPPA President