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- President’s Report:
- Welcome to the Principalship:
- Australia Day Honours List:
- Where we are at and where we are heading:
- DEL | PSL Support in our schools:
- NSWPPA State Conference for 2022 in the APPA Conference in Sydney:
- NSWPPA Professional Learning Officer EOI – An incredible opportunity that may interest you.
- Reference Groups, Standing Committees and Working Parties:
- PPC Conferences and Meetings:
- NSWPPA State Council Term 1:
- President and Delegate Roles in 2022:
- Our Chairpersons for 2022:
- AGPPA Update:
- The Inclusive, Engaging and Respectful Schools Strategy:
- School Sport and Guidelines | Delegate Andrew Hooper:
- NSWPPA Professional Learning- Term 1 | PLO Margaret Charlton:
- Key Updates from the NSWPPA Executive:
- Vale Brian William Debus (1943-2022)
- And finally…..
CONGRATULATIONS and a heartfelt THANK YOU to each and every one of you. Our schools are now beating to the rhythm of student laughter and learning.
The start to 2022 has presented you all with a mountain of challenges and true to form you have stood firm on ensuring your workforce and your students have been your priority. The challenges are real, and the workload is unrelenting. And yet, you remain positive and engaged each and every day. Make time for you so YOU can give to others.
Your mindset is a priority – you know what works for you … keep actioning the things that energise you. Equally important, is to prioritise quiet times. The noise of the day has us in ‘adrenaline surge’ mode and we all need the time to rest and count our gratefuls. To maintain the positivity in our schools WE need to position ourselves to do so. If you make your wellbeing a priority, then you staff will follow your lead.
We will continue to have many questions as we navigate COVID and manage COVID safe plans. Each day, new challenges arise, and time and time again, you respond accordingly. The challenge is to manage the external distractions and focus on what matters most. Narrow your focus – manage your mindset.
Building on from my message in Week 2, I share with you some thoughts from a podcast a generous colleague shared with me from Mindset Coach Ben Crowe. Ben is the mindset coach who works with Ash Barty, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. Ben talks about purpose, meaning, gratitude, selflessness, courage, care for others, role models, inspiration and empathy.
He acknowledges we thrive when we surround ourselves with others and lean in on them – he uses the analogy of snowboarders and surfers ‘leaning in’ on the snow or in the surf because when or if they lean back - they fall.
He discussed seeing the greatness in ourselves through positive self-talk and the positive spill we see when we recognise and celebrate the greatness in others. ‘Team’ is what we know drives our school culture and success. You are the one who drives the culture for your teams to thrive.
In talking about the challenges COVID is presenting he encourages people to acknowledge and accept that life is difficult right now. Once we accept that, life becomes LESS difficult. He speaks too about the difference between ‘got to’ and ‘get to’ and how when we reframe our wording, our mindset has a positive shift ... I’ve ‘got to’ talk to my team about...| I ‘get to’ talk to my team about …in reframing that statement there’s a perspective shift. It really works! Try it!
One of the things I reflect on often is the notion that ‘uncertainty’ doesn’t sit well with many of us – certainly in our schools we thrive on anticipating what’s ahead and preparing for it as well as thriving on routines and standards. COVID has presented us with different challenges. In the podcast, Ben recalls one of his mum’s constant sayings:
‘Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.’
Thankyou for the incredible work you do in leading your school – thank you too to all who have made contact with me as we start the 2022 school year. I know my purpose and I am incredibly grateful and appreciative of the Principalship I walk alongside.
Have a wonderful week!
I would warmly like to welcome the fifty five newly appointed Principals to role. Congratulations to you all and welcome to the membership of the NSW Primary Principals’ Association. I encourage you to join if you haven’t already and enjoy the wealth of information and the strength of your local PPC network colleagues.
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. Your voice and perspective is of value.
Belinda |
Clarke |
Werrington County Public School |
Jacqueline |
Gordon |
Normanhurst Public School |
Callum |
Thomson |
Greenwich Public School |
Lisa |
Phillips |
Elanora Heights Public School |
Natalie |
Plowman |
Marayong Heights Public School |
Raelene |
Ward |
Boronia Park Public School |
Sharon |
Smithies |
Royal Far West School |
Diana |
Angeloudis |
Crestwood Public School |
Anna |
Farrugia |
Beverly Hills Public School |
Diane |
Bambridge |
Gardeners Road Public School |
Donna |
McGeary |
Punchbowl Public School |
David |
Lomas |
Bridge Road School |
Jillian |
Wolfe |
Bourke Street Public School |
Karen |
Sor |
Wattawa Heights Public School |
Khaled |
Elhage |
Austral Public School |
Sandra |
Acevedo-Rugg |
Les Powell School |
Kristy |
Hill |
Leumeah Public School |
Natalie |
Bourke |
Hazelbrook Public School |
Lisa |
McGrath |
Freemans Reach Public School |
Rebecca |
Pitts |
Wideview Public School |
Tracey |
Stephens |
Newcastle Senior School |
Sarah |
Allen |
Macdonald Valley Public School |
Phillip |
Lindsell |
Paterson Public School |
Margot |
Jasprizza |
Ballimore Public School |
Lynn |
Dallas |
Mogo Public School |
Sarah |
Davis |
Moruya Public School |
Joanne |
Curran |
Oakdale Public School |
Troy |
King |
John Warby Public School |
Jessica |
Pryor |
Tirranna Public School |
Margaret |
Pratt |
Wingello Public School |
Belinda |
Hopkinson |
Kangaloon Public School |
Kendrah |
Souter |
Tangara School |
Bernadette |
Stephens |
Coledale Public School |
Gillian |
Baker |
Bullarah Public School |
Sharyn |
Pidgeon |
Pallamallawa Public School |
David |
King |
Woolgoolga Public School |
Toni |
Skewes |
Ashford Central School |
Danielle |
Haywood |
Barkers Vale Public School |
Amanda |
Selmes |
Coffee Camp Public School |
Christine |
Kovac |
Lyndhurst Public School |
Amanda |
Wheeler |
Tibooburra Outback Public School |
Micheal |
Burke |
Coleambally Central School |
Joshua |
Webb |
Oaklands Central School |
Marianne |
Pankhurst |
Bowen Public School |
Grant |
Lloyd |
Ardlethan Central School |
Jodie |
Harris |
Smithfield Public School |
Julie |
Perkins |
Lucas Heights Community School |
Jody |
MacDonald |
Marton Public School |
Rachel |
Graham |
Comleroy Road Public School |
Maurice |
Elbourne-Binns |
Wambangalang EEC |
Kyle |
Brothers |
Breadalbane Public School |
Paul |
Martin |
Laggan Public School |
Linda |
Frizell |
Chandler Public School |
Michael |
Mendes |
Weilmoringle Public School |
Roslyn |
Buchanan |
Barham Public School |
We acknowledge and congratulate our colleagues on their recognition and inclusion on the Australia Day Honours List.
Cindy Berwick | former AECG President
A fearless educator who was driven to make a difference for Aboriginal students and their communities. Cindy’s family can be incredibly proud of her recognition. Her legacy is immeasurable.
Mark Greentree |Director Technology 4 Learning (former Principal Prestons PS )
Recognising his school leadership, expertise and school voice in leading a team to ensure the effective integration of technology in schools to enhance and enrich the learning experiences for all students and staff alike.
Locally, colleagues too were recognised and celebrated. Congratulations to these colleagues and a HUGE thank you to colleagues who shared these celebrations with me.
Garry Munday | Citizen of the Year - Macleay Valley, Kempsey.
Garry Munday former Teacher in Charge and then PP5 Principal of Gladstone PS 1979-1999 and NSWPPA Member was awarded Citizen of the Year - Macleay Valley, Kempsey.
Garry was a keen NSWPPA member on the North Coast and attended meetings with his North Coast colleagues particularly Ralph Taylor (NSWPPA Life member and at the time Principal of Macksville PS) and Jim Crisp (Principal Kinchela PS. They famously attended the International Principals conference held at Darling Harbour in 2000.
He established connections around the state and also spent 2 years at the RAAF School in Penang (1975-1976) where he established firm friendships with Steve Stuart and Rick Riddell (NSWPPA Life Members) both who went on to play significant roles in the NSWPPA over a number of years.
A summary of his award:
As a teacher, sportsperson, historian, author, volunteer and Rotarian, Garry has played a positive role in the lives of many in the shire since he took up residency here in 1977.
He has been involved with many local sporting clubs including Kempsey Cannonballs and Mid North Coast Rugby Union where he has life memberships at both and still motivates school children and sportspersons in the Macleay Valley.
Garry retired from teaching in 1999 and from here, he followed an interest in the Macleay Valley’s history volunteering for the Macleay Valley Historical Society where he is currently the Vice President. He has produced many journals documenting past events that shaped the Macleay today.
Coincidentally, Garry’s award and citation was presented by Kempsey Mayor – Mr Leo Hauville (former Principal of Willawarrin PS).
Shelley Darcy |Principal |Dubbo Sportsperson of the Year
Shelley is currently relieving at Geurie Public School and is the substantive Principal Eumungerie PS. Shelley is a member of the Small School Reference Group. Convenor of District and Western Athletics Carnivals - attends State Athletics and coaches Dubbo District Touch Football.
She was recognised as MVP of the last State of Origin Touch Carnival – 40’s women. Shelley plays touch herself and league tag. What deserving recognition!
Where we are at and where we are heading:
Week 4 and the return to school has looked similar yet different in all settings. Kindergarten starting has been a highlight with one Kindergarten student asking another ‘Who is Mr ….?.” and the other student replied ‘ He is the king of our school ‘ !! We all have beautiful moments that make this role so worthwhile.
Every year we face challenges when returning to school … on top of those challenges that still exist including COVID, we have faced an unprecedented challenge with staffing. Many schools were without staff to start the year and each week the trend has been the same.
True to form again, this has been expertly managed. Our casual workforce is limited |scarce and in some places, non-existent. Chief People Officer |Deputy Secretary Yvette Cachia sent an update on corporate assistance in schools last week. Please stay in close contact with your DEL regarding staffing so that it can be both supported and monitored. It has been really encouraging to see our PSL’s and our Coaching team step in to support schools. Extraordinary times in this area are seeing extraordinary colleagues step up. We thank you for your genuine support.
DEL | PSL Support in our schools:
In ‘clearing the decks’ all training and PL provided by DEL’s and PSL’s was put on hold until Week 5. A number of Principals have requested PSL support in managing wellbeing issues and have seen a window of opportunity where they saw a clear path to work on their SIP, upcoming EV, AR, and IPMS .
Please know there is to be no group PL or training until Week 5. Our PSL workforce are our shoulder to shoulder support. Keep in mind this workforce is also part of the corporate workforce available to schools and that resource will remain a priority.
Give your PSL a call or send an email to them. They are really keen to be working with you and your teams. I know how valuable they are to you in your schools. As you have heard on the webinars, this is being actioned.
NSWPPA State Conference for 2022 in the APPA Conference in Sydney:
SAVE THE DATE IN YOUR CALENDAR NOW:
Term 4 Week 4
Tuesday 1 November pm registration and networking event | Wednesday 2 November |Thursday 3 November | Friday 4 November at the Sofitel Wentworth Sydney.
Details will be forthcoming soon regarding speaking program. You will need to be ready to register for this as this conference is open to government principals across Australia.
NSWPPA Professional Learning Officer EOI – An incredible opportunity that may interest you.
Last week the Professional Learning Officers position was advertised. Please find the link here. Enquiries to either myself or Executive Officer Mark Pritchard.
Reference Groups, Standing Committees and Working Parties:
For term 1 we will host all these meetings via ZOOM or Teams. If you are a contact person in your PPC please look out for communication from your Regional Representative.
In last week’s webinar we heard we would be able to plan for the resumption of face to face meetings for the second half of this term. This was met with great relief. COVID safe plans will be required adhering to the community advice of the time.
Recommendations include: - gathering hosted at a venue with a COVID safe plan, mask wearing, social distancing and a recommendation of a RAT test being taken by attendees each day. Presenters and key note speakers would also be required to adhere to the same. Contingency plans for your leadership team back at your school would be part of the consideration in the event you were to contract COVID.
Executive, Chairpersons, Delegates and Presidents will be meeting face to face in Week 7 on Thursday 10 March and Friday 11 March at the Novotel Haymarket. The NSWPPA Executive and Chairpersons will meet from 12 noon on Wednesday 9 March at the NSWPPA Professional Learning Suite 1.05 | 22-36 Mountain Street Ultimo. Mark Pritchard will release details very soon.
President and Delegate Roles in 2022:
In week 6 I will announce the 43 newly elected PPC Presidents and Delegates – we are waiting to finalise this list. A few PPC’s are yet to have their AGM to make these decisions.
It critical too that your PPC sends Lisa Beare the 10 nominated Principals from your PPC to sit on Principal panels. DEL’s and ED’s are already requesting this list.
Can I also ask all Presidents to 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.
The Associations expertise is drawn on through the Chairpersons the members of the Reference Groups, Standing Committees and Working Parties. This AMAZING team are the greatest advocates for the work of the NSW Principalship.
The Associations expertise is drawn on through the Chairpersons the members of the Reference Groups, Standing Committees and Working Parties. This AMAZING team are the greatest advocates for the work of the NSW Principalship.
Aboriginal Education: Paul Byrne| Assessment, Planning and Accountability: Scott Sanford | Assets: Brent Kunkler | Curriculum: Lee Ann Saurins | Disabilities: Graeme McLeod | Finance and Administration: Karen Mortimer | Human Resources: Skye Ramsay | Principal Support: Grace Palamara | SSP’s: Mark Gosbell | Student Wellbeing: Helen Craigie |Teaching Principals: Bek Zadow | Technology: Drew Janetzki | Legal Issues: Steve McAlister | Annual Conference: Kylie Donovan | Communication and Engagement: David Munday | Leadership: Cath Larkman | Rural Education: Michael Ostler | School Viability: Grant Schaefer | New Builds and Rebuilds: Tracy Anderson
This week I met with AGPPA Presidents’ and we shared the return to school status in our jurisdictions. Interesting to look at the similarities as well as the differences.
Northern Territory
- Approximately 1% of student population tested positive for COVID last week. This week it’s 2%.
- Received a good supply of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) were received today
- Distributed to students who are close contacts. If a student is displaying symptoms, the student will need to go to the Department to get a RAT.
All school staff have optional RAT supply of 3 per week. - Close contact tracing not being carried out due to definition of ‘4 continuous hours’.
- Due to recent weather events, train line and Stuart Highway cut off. Remote communities cut off and suffering food shortage and are hit by Covid.
Isolation in remote communities is very challenging due to over-crowding in houses. - Communication struggle between the Department and remote community: positive cases not getting reported
- Families not sending their children to school in both urban and remote areas, particularly in the primary sector as they wait for their child/ren to receive the second dose.
Tasmania.
- Department Comms have been good: Twice weekly COVID updates for all school principals and school business managers, which is good to ensure that they all get the same message.
- RATs: At the end of last week there were still schools who had yet to receive their kits but most have now received them and remaining ones are being delivered today. The next shipment of RATs are unassembled and it’s up to schools to assemble them. It should not occur in following shipments but it’s a big ask for schools.
- Today ( 8 February ) is the deadline for all staff to enter their vaccination status.
- Close contacts: 4 hours of continuous contact and it is anticipated that the rate of infection will be higher in primary schools.
- Announced today: a COVID Contact Team for schools. A COVID contact person will be assigned to each school. It is anticipated that this role will help with the form filling, processes etc
South Australia
- Staggered start: Foundation, Years One, Seven and Eight and Twelve. All back next week. ( our Week 4 )
- RATs: also arrived unassembled. Confusion in schools as many of the boxes containing RAT kits were unmarked and got ‘lost’ amongst the many school supply boxes received at the start of the year. The next shipment should arrive assembled.
- If a teacher is identified as a close contact, they have access to RATs to test every morning to be able to go to school. A PCR test is required if they develop symptoms or get a positive RAT.
- Department put together a good Infographic that helped people to understand the process.
- Unvaccinated principals took 6 months leave. Some of them are waiting on Novavax.
- Remote communities cut off due to flooding, cut off for another 2 weeks. Also experiencing an increase in positive cases due to over-crowded housing.
Western Australia
- Department communication changes frequently. Meeting held weekly, sometimes multiple times per week but normally at very short notice.
- Ventilation Roll Out: due to the size of the State, it has been quite challenging. The weekend before school started, schools were on standby to receive HEPA filters. Confusion over old schools, windows open, air conditioners etc.
- Boosters: Staff are mandated to upload their booster status. Causing problems to those staff who had their second jab in advance as they were not allowed to be at school by February 5. The solution offered by the Department was for schools to use the PL day to get all staff to receive their booster shot.
Families are keeping their children at home for now. Census audit is coming up next week and a large of percentage of children have not returned to school for now and no paperwork trail. This issue is currently being taken up with the Department. - Relief payments: If a teacher has been deemed a close contact, be it asymptomatic but must isolate at home.
Victoria
- Relatively quiet start to the school year.
- Although relatively quiet, there is a lot going on underneath the surface!
- Infection rates are up. Dept has created a ‘Surge Workforce’ of over 30 recently retired principals go out to support new school leaders, replace COVID positive school principals etc.
- Part of the Surge Workforce are recently retired teachers and 4th year pre-service teachers to support schools if they cannot find sufficient staff.
- Work over the school holiday period due to being available for the filter audit and receiving filters etc. The issue is: what is the policy and science behind it? Who is responsible for cleaning the filters?
- RATs – there wasn’t enough supply and school leaders kept families informed.
- Vaccination & booster shots: good roll out now. Issue that staff were put on ‘stop pay’ as they were deemed to not having the correct vaccine certificate. Ongoing work to get this fixed.
The Inclusive, Engaging and Respectful Schools Strategy:
Helen Craigie | Student Wellbeing Reference Group, Graeme McLeod | Disabilities Reference Group, Mark Gosbell | SSP’s Reference Group, Trish Peters |Executive Liaison and I have continued to position ourselves in this area of reform. The NSWPPA State Executive too have recently engaged in conversation with robust questioning and considerations and clarity sought.
Resourcing, both human and professional learning have been strongly advocated for. We have remained resolute in our position. We have been afforded a strong voice which has in fact been able to shape how procedures will look in all contexts. It must be said that there are some procedures which have been non-negotiable as they are Government mandates, grounded in Legislation from the Royal Commission findings. This strategy is system wide transformation. What is clear, is that every school will be at a different starting point in the Inclusive, Engaging and Respectful Schools Strategy. NSWPPA have been consulted and have time and time again invested much time, recommendations and alternatives to the draft procedures and documents.
We are only now seeing the Strategy in its entirety. It must be said that there are a number of details in the policy and procedures that we have stood firm on particularly around resourcing and suspension. Many recommendations we have made have in fact been included.
Our claim for resourcing that is visible and timely as well as offer expertise and agency for the student themselves, the staff, the family, the school leaders and every other student in the school that may be impacted by high level behaviours in a must.
Professional Learning must be quality, supportive, timely and differentiated. We have continued to talk about the curriculum focus all schools have with not only the introduction of the K-2 Curriculum but also our SIP focus for Professional Learning.
We also see a whole of government shift required to support this strategy in terms of services |medical | psychological | counselling |therapies as well as a workforce for preschools in schools. Policies are reviewed every 3 years. We have commitment that this policy will be reviewed at the end of the 1st year of implementation (end of 2022).
PPA, SPC and Federation are also holding firm in their recommendations for particular components of the strategy. We have been advised that the policy and procedures will be released for familiarisation.
Some of the strategy will be familiar to you and be current practice in your school. There will however be a case for change in some of the procedures you currently have. NSWPPA have recommended the familiarisation be staggered and focus first on: Inclusion, then, the Behaviour Strategy and then Restrictive Practices.
We have been ever mindful that the workload is going to be problematic for all schools. I ask you are candid with me as this strategy is introduced. Capture the positives and the problems you may encounter. You are encouraged to contact Trish Peters or myself at anytime.
Stay tuned ... The familiarisation period will commence later this term. DELS are putting placeholder dates in calendars to make presentations.
School Sport and Guidelines | Delegate Andrew Hooper:
Andrew has put together a quick guide to support decisions needing to be made in our schools. Please contact him at Emu Height PS or via email. Summary of the key advice includes:
- If you cannot put off running an event because there is a timeline that cannot be changed i.e. zone swimming, regional swimming, and state swimming we need to run the carnival where we mitigate the risks.
- If the event does not need to happen then we decide if it should happen i.e. Teddy Bears Picnic
- We need to make sure we allow pathways for students to represent.
- Follow covid safe practices and accurate record keeping.
- Venue planning and messages on the day ie. safe practices, social distancing, hygiene, cleaning, masks etc
- Cohorting becomes the cohort for the day when running something and the cohort could be a stage at school, school at a zone carnival or a zone at a regional carnival. Cohorts can change depending on the situation.
- The sports unit is there to support.
NSWPPA Professional Learning- Term 1 | PLO Margaret Charlton:
Building leadership effectiveness in 2022
The NSWPPA will continue to offer a range of professional learning programs for Principals and school leaders throughout 2022. The leadership programs offered by the NSWPPA have been outstanding in their ability to enhance the capacity of school leaders across our schools. We continue to offer a mix of face to face and online programs.
The following programs are now open for registrations and course information flyers and links are included below.
What’s new
Measuring what we value
A Masterclass with Professor Jim Tognolini
Audience: Principals, school executive
Delivery: This program is delivered over 5 x 2 hour sessions
(2.00-4.00pm) across Semester 1, enabling you to link this learning to your school’s assessment and reporting cycle.
Session Dates: Thursday 3 March, Thursday 24 March, Thursday 5 May, Thursday 2 June, Thursday 23 June
School improvement requires evidence of impact on factors that schools think are important in terms of their school plan. The right data, in the right format, used the right way, empowers everyone with the information they need to make decisions and take actions that lead to improved student outcomes, a requirement for school improvement.
This program is designed to support school leaders to:
- build knowledge and skills in assessment and data literacy;
- foster confidence to measure what we value, beyond external assessment protocols; and
- enhance school leader capacity to develop and apply assessment strategies that reflect research and enable effective evidence informed decision making.
Founded on the Australian Professional Standard for Principals and focused on learning excellence for students, teachers and school leaders.
Audience: Principals, experienced APs and DPs, school leadership teams
Expressions of interest are currently being taken for this key leadership development program. In its ninth year this program has contributed significantly to building key leadership competencies for Principals and experienced executive.
The Principal Credential provides a substantial pathway of learning for school leadership. This program enables leaders to focus their influence and their learning on the core business of teaching and learning to have the greatest influence on student learning outcomes. Within the program, formal learning is provided through a series of seminars that enable access to international best practice, educational research and thinking. The program also includes facilitated collegial learning and focused individual learning with an experienced principal coach. Successful participants will receive a pathway for 50% of a Masters of Educational Leadership at Wollongong University.
Information and an expression of interest for the next program for 2022 is available through the information flyer.
Lone Leaders: Rural and Remote School Leaders
How do rural and remote Principals build and maintain resilience, forge lasting networks and continue their learning journeys?
Join the Global Network of Professional Learning Leaders for a series of three webinars designed to offer ideas, support and inspiration. Participants will hear from experts in rural and remote schools and will have the opportunity to connect with colleagues from Australia and Canada.
The Global Network is organising a series of three 90-minute learning sessions. Its purpose is to connect school leaders across the globe through shared learning and networking opportunities.
Session 2: High-impact school leadership in rural and remote schools
(Associate Professor Scott Eacott, University of NSW)
Date: February 25, 10.30am (ADST) / February 24, 7.30pm (Canada)
The sessions will take place in October 2021, February 2022 and April 2022 for individuals who lead in rural and remote schools. During each session, you will hear from an expert on leadership in rural and remote schools and you will have the opportunity to network with colleagues from Australia and Canada. Through these sessions, participants will gain a perspective beyond their own context, have an opportunity to share strategies and to add to their professional network. An information flyer with program registration details is attached.
If you have already registered and participated in Session 1 there is no need to register again. New participants wanting to join the remaining sessions simply follow the registration links in the flyer.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Delivered online and face to face.
No matter how competent a person is, he or she will not have sustained and lasting success unless they are able to effectively lead themselves, influence, engage and collaborate with others, and continually improve and renew their capabilities. These elements are at the heart of personal, team, and organisational effectiveness. The 7 Habits will enable you to intentionally align values, behaviours, norms and systems toward a central strategy where culture becomes a force to drive results. You will learn how to grasp the 7 Habits as a powerful tool for creating a great culture and model and reinforce the 7 Habits to create an operating system for effectiveness in your teams and school.
Leading at the Speed of Trust
Delivered online and face to face.
When trust is low, suspicion is high, and communication is guarded. With high trust, communication, creativity, and engagement improve. Trust is one of the most important aspects in today’s school environment and like any other discipline, creating trust is a learnable skill. With increased trust our attention is redirected towards improving student learning outcomes. Leading at the Speed of Trust will provide the mindset, skillset, and toolset that will measurably increase a participant’s ability to deliver results in a way that inspires trust.
Art of Leadership
Places available only in the Wollongong program.
The Art of Leadership Masterclass
This program is fully subscribed for 2022.
Please Note: Program invoices
Currently all program invoices from our Cvent registration system are being filtered by the DoE to junk emails. Please check there for your invoice when registering. Please allow emails from Cvent to come to your DoE email account.
Right click on the email. Select ‘Junk’. Select ‘Never block sender’.
For more information please contact:
Margaret Charlton
Professional Learning Officer
Mob: 0408 905 051
mcharlton@nswppa.org.au
Key Updates from the NSWPPA Executive:
Supporting You | Deputy President Bob Willetts:
Starting the year off right – Your Circle of Influence
The start of each year presents the opportunity to start fresh and set new goals.
We encourage all principals to add health and wellbeing goals to your PDP.
Your school and community and family need you to be well to perform at your best.
One of the things we have learned from the Flourish Movement is to BE SPECIFIC about the behaviours that will achieve your goals.
Change the old tried and failed new years’ resolution of “I’m going to improve my fitness and lose weight” to the specific behaviours that will achieve the goal such as “I’m going to go to the gym 3 times per week at 6am and reduce my alcohol intake. “
A culture of trust.
Research shows one of the most important ways to build trust is to ask for help.
We encourage all Principals to “Lean In” to the support systems available.
The PPA Executive are working with Headspace to continue to build our collective capacity to provide effective support and importantly build our collective courage to see vulnerability as a strength and lean into the support that is on offer. This term’s PPC Meetings will include some resources from Headspace for Presidents and Deputy Presidents to utilise.
“Call a colleague”
Collegial support and a strong collegial network is the best protective factor and form of support.
The NSWPPA website has a support flow chart to guide principals to seek support which was developed by the Principal Support Reference Group. The number one option for every level of incident is to call a colleague.
Grace Palamara is the Chairperson of the NSWPPA Principal Support Reference Group, and every PPC has a Principal Support contact person who is there to support you and advocate on your behalf.
Principal Support Officers
We now employ invest in 3 Professional Support Officers to help manage the pointy end of support and wellbeing issues.
The key message is to call and seek advice or assistance with matters early.
The contact details for PSOs are on the website.
Principal Support Flowchart and Application Forms.
The NSWPPA Principals’ Support Reference Group (PSRG) provides support for NSWPPA members where Director of Public School (DPS) or Executive Director (ED) Support does not address the immediate needs of Principals.
The PSRG utilises colleagues to support NSWPPA members who are experiencing difficulty, identifies key contacts in each Area Council that facilitate principal support and sets aside up to 100 days relief which is to be accessed through the NSWPPA State Executive (Principal Support) or the State President.
Please access the forms on the website below
New Principals Salary Deduction Form | Treasurer Gregory Grinham
We welcome all new and reliving principals to join the NSWPPA. Attached is the membership/ salary deduction form that you can share with any new or relieving principals who may not have already joined.
PPC Treasurer Information | Treasurer Gregory Grinham
Attached is a document for all PPC Treasurers on the role of the treasurer. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact myself or one of the other NSWPPA Exec.
Vale Brian William Debus (1943-2022)
Brian was a unique character, many would say ‘one of a kind’ or ‘one in a million’. He remained a relentless and staunch advocate for public education, equality and social justice throughout his 50 years with the NSW Department of Education.
Born in Sydney in 1943, Brian attended Bankstown Central Public School and Punchbowl Boys High School. After completing his training at Newcastle Teachers College, he began his teaching career at Bankstown West Public School in 1962 at just 18 years of age.
Brian’s love of rural and remote teaching began in 1965 when working at both Wanaaring Public School and Louth Public School.
Brian returned to Sydney as ‘Teacher in Charge’, to take on the challenge of Cooinda SSP in Fairfield. With no published curriculum or programs, his innovation and ingenuity became the keys to creating successful pathways for teenage boys with disabilities. Reward came at the end of four years with inspection and his first promotion. Brian was made Deputy Master at Henty Public School before attaining his first Principal appointment at Wamoon Public School, a two teacher school on the outskirts of Leeton in 1974.
Eager to lead a school with a high indigenous population, Brian sought and gained appointment to Wilcannia Central School in 1976. Brian worked passionately to expand the experiences of isolated students. He persuaded the NSW Department of Education to allow the school to buy a bus. This was a real breakthrough and thereafter opened the doors of opportunity and travel experience for all regional and remote NSW students.
Brian was the Principal of Narooma Public School from 1979 - 1990. In Narooma, he re-established a local theatre group which had been in recess for many years. This continued over twelve years and performances ran two or three times a year. He was a set designer, director and actor in various productions that were linked to HSC subjects.
In 1991, Brian was appointed Principal of Griffith Public School and remained there until retiring (the first time) in 2002. During this period, his school received three Director General Awards for Excellence in Community Engagement, Multicultural Activities and Community Integration.
After a brief retirement 2002 - 2005, Brian returned to education as Principal of Menindee Central School in 2005, a small K-12 school in Far West NSW. He remained there until 2013. During this tenure, his passion for indigenous education flourished. Working closely with the local aboriginal community, he co-developed a strategy to address attendance rates, build cultural affirmation, make learning significant and engaging, increase HSC completion and create career and educational pathways.
Achievements:
- Griffith and Broken Hill PPC President, State Delegate and member, NSWPPA State Treasurer and Executive and NSWSPC Finance Committee delegate
- Regional Chairman to review Performances in Schools, South Coast and Riverina
- 2003 awarded Life Membership of the NSWPPA in recognition of his outstanding contributions to public education and the Association
- 2009 awarded the O’Farrell Fellowship by NSW Department of Education and NSWPPA to study Indigenous Education in USA
- 2010 founded what developed into the City Country Alliance of Schools (CCAS)
- 2012 awarded the NSWPPA State Social Justice Award
- 2016 honoured by the Australian College of Educators
- NSWPPA Professional Award for significant contribution to the Professional Development of colleague Principals at the School, Area and State level
- Awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his outstanding service and work with the Menindee community
- 2017 – current, selected by Australia Day Council (NSW) to be an annual Australia Day Ambassador
Brian was politically savvy and relentlessly persistent in fighting for policy change, funding support and building partnerships that could address inequity. His tenacity usually won out, and students, teachers and principals were inevitably the beneficiaries. An ideas man, Brian modelled to school communities and associations to ‘dream big’ and to keep ‘thinking outside the box’. He was a champion of making a difference!
A great friend and colleague to many, many people, Brian will be sadly missed by all.
Brian is survived by Tricia, their children Sasha and Tara, and grandchildren, Oskar, Hugo and Iris.
Due to the current COVID circumstances, the family have undertaken a private cremation and will look to coordinate a memorial service later in 2022.
On behalf of the NSWPPA Executive:
Deputy President: Rob Walker | Deputy President: Bob Willetts| Vice President: Michael Burgess | Vice President: Jude Hayman| Vice President: Trish Peters | Vice President: Norma Petrocco | Vice President: Michael Trist | Vice President: Stuart Wylie | Treasurer: Gregory Grinham | Secretary: Greg McLaren | Business Manager: Lisa Beare | Professional Officer: Mark Pritchard | Professional Support Officer: Phil Seymour | Professional Support Officer: Geoff Scott | Professional Support Officer: Wendy Buckley | Professional Learning Officer: Margaret Charlton, we are proud to serve the Principalship of NSW. We remind you we are here to support you in your individual school setting and voice your PPC’s issues. In doing so, we empower you to make contextual and localised decisions. We are strongly advocating for policy, practices and procedures that are school centric and focus on our core business.
Colleagues, we are well positioned in high level forums and are actively sought to consult and engage with – our goal remains to work in partnership with NSW Department of Education personnel.
Take care and celebrate your daily wins!
Robyn
Robyn Evans
NSWPPA President