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And now it’s Week 11…
WE DID IT – WEEK 11 of the year that well and truly has been a marathon!!!
WE HAVE REACHED the end of 2021.
We must acknowledge the fact that COVID has impacted on the ability for us all to be social and feel free and comfortable to move in society. The reality of lockdowns and restrictions with school closures | border closures | cohorting |vaccinations | restrictions on visiting families and friends, has taken a toll on us all. It has been detrimental for many. We are social beings, we catch up with colleagues, family members and friends all the time, we laugh and enjoy the company and conversation of our tribes – that’s how we are. This year has been somewhat different for most. Please take the time to acknowledge your friends and colleagues who you’ve ‘walked with’ this year – these people matter so much.
This year again, we have been leading from the front. We have managed the thoughts, feelings and emotions of all our stakeholders, at the same time, managing our own and those of our closest friends and family members.
Just when we appear to be coming out of the depth of COVID we are again challenged by a new strain. It’s true, there is uncertainty about what it might look like for the 2022 school year. But for now, we need to park that thought.
2021 has seen us pivot time and time again. It takes time to heal and it takes time to adjust after a year like this. Like you, I have felt the strain at times and it has manifested in numerous ways on different occasions: - frustration, anger, exhaustion, fear and disappointment. We all have a story to tell. We have all stood with someone who has suffered unimaginable loss and grief in our communities both personally and professionally too.
Amidst this we have seen the MOST beautiful acts of kindness, care, thoughtfulness, and consideration. YOU have offered such acts and I am confident you have seen the very best in humanity in your communities. Hold those moments tight – they are testament to the people you walk life with personally and professionally.
YOU should be so very proud of yourself and what you and your staff, students and community have achieved. YOU have been the absolute ROCK this year for e v e r y o n e. Your agility around managing all things COVID, the 11am press conference with Gladys Berejiklian |Kerry Chant| Brad Hazzard, the daily SITREP, DoE Webinars, vaccination and ALL that went with it, COVID ILSP, cohorting, contact tracing, positive cases, close contact | casual contact | no contact, addressing anxiety, frustration and anger, responding to our communities and supporting our staff, remaining confidential and cognisant that that confidentiality potentially put others at risk. You have done an amazing job every single day!
At this time of year, we are ticking off the must do’s and preparing for next year, we are welcoming new students and families into our schools and farewelling our year 6 students and families as they continue their educational journey. We are also grappling with securing staffing and recruiting for new positions, our entire team are racing to the finish AND at the same time ‘attempting‘ to plan for 2022 – it is not a time we find ourselves winding down – we are in fact high functioning and rapidly responding.
Many of you have asked what we can expect in Term 1 as we return to school. DoE and H&S have indicated they anticipate schools will remain at Level 3. We are all noticing the steady increase in community transmission again. It has been suggested that advice go to Principals the week beginning 10 January (this is when corporate return ). There will be nothing communicated until then, I ask you step away from your devices completely and rest.
So, come 4pm Friday 17 December, I am hoping you have pulled the door behind you – keyed the lock and are in your car heading home. Read that sentence again….. So, come 4pm Friday 17 December, I am hoping you have pulled the door behind you – keyed the lock and are in your car heading home.
YOU HAVE EXCELLED – You have given your all and more and NOW, YOU MUST prioritise YOU and YOURS.
It is time.
It is now time for YOU.
YOU MUST step away.
YOU have continued to do an amazing job recharging this year when you could, and you’ve topped up your battery BUT now it’s time to recharge in a sustained way.
REST and RECOVER, RECOVER and RECONNECT, RECONNECT and REJUVENATE with people and places that light you up.
Do nothing and enjoy everything.
SLOW down and breathe.
Take your time and enjoy those you walk life with.
Go to places that make your spirits soar and those that feed your soul
Give your heart and head some time to rest – stop giving to all and pause a while.
AND THEN…
Face the world rejuvenated once more!!!!
In closing the 2021 school year I would like to acknowledge YOU personally – YOUR school community has leant in on you over the past two years like it NEVER has before and YOU have stood up to that EVERY TIME – nothing has seemed insurmountable – you HAVE continued to soldier on. REMARKABLE and miraculous. No wonder you are tired. TOGETHER the EDUCATION WORKFORCE – our schools, have been the strength in our society during this pandemic. I thank you and applaud you. YOU have so much to be proud of.
As a member, you are an integral part of this Association … YOU are the pivot point in your school. ALL things operate around you. The Association listens to your voice and carries it forward to our senior DoE personnel. Many of you too have had the opportunity to voice your schools’ perspective in many other forums the Minister, Secretary and Deputy Secretaries have hosted throughout the year.
I extend my gratitude to the Executive members of the forty three Primary Principal Councils across NSW. Your work, leadership and support of your PPC has certainly been of value. Thank you for taking on one of the roles representing your colleagues.
In particular, I would like to acknowledge the work of the Delegates and Presidents. Their commitment, not only to your area but also to the state more broadly has involved further time and commitment.
Our PPC Delegates have attended and engaged in all State Council Meetings and had a strong presence and voice in how we have supported, empowered, advocated and lead through 2021. I thank you all for your service to the Association.
Delegates | Observer Delegates
Leonie Clarkson |Richard Metcalf | Simon Parsons| Mick McCann | Deborah Fisher | Tanya Vogt | Belinda Jamieson | Tony Friedrich | Michelle Wells | Ben Delanty | Kathryn Weston | Ben Carter | Robyn Urquhart | Cameron Osborne | Deb Scanes | Judi Albans| Milly Stone | Julie Organ | Tania Weston | Andrew McEachern | Jenny Wilson | Monica St Baker | Kerry Barker | Ben Walsh | Dawn Dallas | Lyndall Droscher | Louise Challis | Karen DeFalco |Gai O’Neill | Samantha Nichol | Michelle Shelton | Jason Ezzy | Jodie James | Lisa Wright | Trish Webb | Sharon Murray | Steve McAlister |Tracy Anderson | Mel Mackie | Nathan Smith | Tony D’Amore | Andrew Hooper |Tom Croker |Peter Jones | Michael Windred |Tanya Whyte
Our PPC Presidents have been integral in leading the Primary Principal Councils representing colleagues in their area and instrumental in collaborating with other PPC Presidents in their region to position representatives on Reference Groups, bringing forward Issues and engaging in State Council during term 1. Your work in supporting, empowering, advocating and leading during 2021 has been of significance. I thank you all for your service to the Association.
Presidents
Jonathan Moxon | Lee Saurins | Kevin Greaves | Sue Maxworthy | Shaun Graham | Leah Martin | Danny Scott | John Bond | Karen Brown | Brad Hunt | Kathy Nott | Andrew Rodgers James Deagan | Jude Voisey | David Munday | Nigel Sherrard | David Lees | Betty Ploeg | Vanessa Murphy | Unity Taylor Hill | Sharelle Bailey | Dorothy Dore | Andrew Pryor | Grant Beard | Melissa Proctor |Kelly Paton | Genelle Petruszenko | Estelle Southall | Liz Van Der Meulen | Trish Fisher | Hugh Miller | Tanya Sarafoski | Vicki Pantelis | Lance Cooper | Angela Lewis | Scott Sanford | Ann van Dartel | Michael Ostler | Andrew Bowmer | Matthew Carter | Pate Cooper | Bek Zadow | Adam Wynn
We hope we see many of you back with us in 2022 in these positions, however if another opportunity has arisen for you or your tenure has seen you nominate for a different role in 2022, I truly thank you for your contribution as a systems leader for the Association.
Before the close of business this week can you please lock in your PPC and Conference dates with Lisa Beare lisa.beare@det.nsw.edu.au so your Executive Liaisons and I can attend your meetings and conferences, I ask, where possible you plan them outside State Council and NSWPPA Executive dates which you will find in the members section of the NSWPPA 2022 Calendar.
If you are retiring as this year closes, I raise a glass of the finest fizz and whole heartedly applaud your service and contribution to Public Education – what legacy and inspiration you leave in your wake. 2021 has been a year for us all to remember but an extraordinary year for it to be your final one.
The Association is led by extraordinary Chairpersons and the State Executive. This AMAZING team has been the greatest of advocates for the work of the NSW principalship. These colleagues have committed to a lead role in the Association and have been instrumental in ensuring the voice of the membership is represented from their respective areas. They have collaborated across RG’s WP’s and SC’s to strengthen the advocacy and action ways forward. I wish to acknowledge the significance of the work they have covered and am sure your Delegate shared the celebration of their work and their RG|SC| WP membership with you at your Term 4 PPC meeting. Thank you for your strength and determination is positioning policy and practice so it lands in schools with purpose.
Our Chairpersons:
Paul Byrne| Scott Sanford | Brent Kunkler | Lee Ann Saurins | Graeme McLeod | Karen Mortimer | Skye Ramsay | Grace Palamara | Mark Gosbell | Helen Craigie |Bek Zadow | Drew Janetzki | Steve McAlister | Kylie Donovan | David Munday | Cath Larkman | Michael Ostler | Grant Schaefer | Tracy Anderson
With our Chairpersons, the NSWPPA State Executive have at all times been on the front foot and sat at the table to have a voice. We have shaped and articulated a culture as we have modelled and action that is responsive, proactive and workable. You will note too that there are decisions that are made by the Government that our voice is not heard. When this has occurred we have held the line and clearly articulated how that will land in schools and the impact it will have. We return to the commentary about ‘how will this improve the teaching, learning, and leading in our schools | how will this help us achieve our targets | how will this be resourced in every school across NSW?
We have sought and been acknowledged for the voice we take to the table in a responsive and proactive manner. On many of these occasions we have been successful in shaping the action forward.
The NSWPPA State Executive have created opportunities to support, empower, advocate and lead. We have done so with clarity, direction and resolve to ensure it lands well in schools. Indeed, it has sometimes taken more grit and determination than you’d imagine (or maybe not).
There is much yet to do and for us our priorities are clear and we have a plan forward. We will publish our priorities on the NSWPPA Website at the start of Term 1 2022. They sit in a final draft and we have a very clear line of sight.
I wish to publicly acknowledge the team – a brilliant team who collaborate, are reflective, creative, focused and provide me with the levers to action a plan forward. There is a culture in this executive that is to behold and I sit in the most privileged of positions to lead and harness their strengths and capabilities.
The NSWPPA State Executive:
Rob Walker | Bob Willetts| Michael Burgess | Jude Hayman| Trish Peters | Norma Petrocco | Michael Trist | Stuart Wylie | Gregory Grinham | Greg McLaren | Lisa Beare | Mark Pritchard | Phil Seymour | Geoff Scott | Wendy Buckley | Margaret Charlton
Thank you to the entire NSWPPA membership - for being you, never ever underestimate the role you have played this year in your school – in the lives of students, staff, colleagues and communities.
All the very best wishes to you all for the festive season and I wish you a truly relaxing and rejuvenating holiday.
I can hardly wait to spend time with you in your schools, at PPC meetings and at conferences in 2022.
Let’s welcome 2022 in with hope, optimism and connection.
Robyn Evans
President NSWPPA
(available during the holidays – text me on 0429 547 619)