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- President’s Report:
- 2022 APPA Conference:
- PPC Meetings:
- NSWPPA Professional Learning Officer:
- Welcome to the Principalship:
- The NSW Public Schools Millennium Marching Band
- Nanga Mai Awards:
- What we have been across and in the room for this term:
- Follow up from State Council:
- Stewart House:
- SAVE THE DATES in your 2023 Calendars | APPA and NSWPPA Conference:
- The Power of Connection | Deputy President Bob Willetts
- Recording of Suspension and Behaviour data | Vice President Leah Martin
- Administration Management Panel for Schools (AMPS) | Vice President Leah Martin
- And finally…..
As we start Week 9 we are well and truly into planning for 2023 and finalising classes, staffing, presentation days, year 6 farewells, planning for SDD’s, not to mention, attending to and planning for your own family and friend celebrations. Certainly, t’is the season.
Sharon Hawker |Principal Canowindra PS shared photos of her town. The devastating flood waters in the main street and the rainbow of hope. Never underestimate the strength of our Principalship – I stand in awe and admiration. Please, I ask you reach out to me if there is ANYTHING I can do to support you – be it one of our flood impacted school communities or one of our schools being impacted by the relentless wave of COVID.
This year has NOT been all we imagined – we have continued to live with the pandemic and natures mood with recurrent flooding – all which have taken their toll – our next concern in the water laying in low lying areas – a mosquito haven. Mosquito’s carrying Japanese Encephalitis have been identified in communities and DoE Health and Safety have responded accordingly to support schools and communities.
YET, we HAVE indeed experienced a MILLION bright spots that are worthy to note. You yourself, your students, your staff, your colleagues, and your community. Think about it – reflect on your many, many, achievements. We sit in such privileged positions as leaders in or schools. WE have faced some of the most challenging situations with relentless and determination. Every decision, every effort, and every action, we have held the wellbeing and the learning of the student at the heart. The pace at which you have led and sheer amount of work that has come across your desk is noteworthy. Society, and the world HAS changed. We have continued to adjust our sails and demonstrate more agility than ever before. Every one of us has faced complexity like never before and here we are – week 9 term 4 2022.
Personally, I ask you THANK your Administrative, Executive, Teaching and Support staff who step up to lead with you on a daily basis – thank THEM on behalf of the State Executive for making it possible for you to attend PPC Meetings, Conferences and State Council meetings each term. The work you do and your contribution at a local and state level is invaluable. The work we ALL do matters.
It's time colleagues, in just a few days YOU become the priority – your family and friends deserve the best version of you. You need to take the time to REST | RECOVER | REFLECT | REBALANCE | RECALIBRATE | REJUVENATE. Plan how you are going to ensure this happens. You need to be the architect of your holidays. Step out of the ‘routine of school’ and into a space where you are nourished.
Have a fabulous week 9 … you have continued to lead this year with such clarity, strength and courage - let’s finish strong – remember to look after yourself as we come t the end of the 2022 school year – don’t ‘drag yourself across the finish line’ into the festive season. You owe it to your family and friends to show up with a battery that still has charge.
We can face 2023 with hope and optimism – whatever it brings, we will be ready – together we will as we have.
THANK YOU for your brilliant leadership of your schools and communities – you are the difference.
Kindest regards
Robyn
BRILLIANCE!!! Sheer BRILLIANCE!!!!!!!
What a wellbeing injection and a perfect storm of high quality professional learning!!!!!! Our NSWPPA Conference Committee pulled off one of their finest and it was a national conference that they created magic!!!! Malcolm Elliott | APPA President has recognised the success of this Conference in glowing terms – the attention to detail astounded him!!!
Those who were there KNOW (be it in person or online ) how good it was! Can I recognise the leadership of ALL the NSWPPA Conference team: Kylie Donovan, Karen DeFalco, Daryl Mc Kay, Lyndall Droscher, Michelle Davies, Cameron Upcroft, Polly Palaitis, Michelle Sarjana, Vicki Harris, Gregory Grinham and Mark Pritchard. Join me in recognising these colleagues. The exit surveys speak volumes to the walk-a-ways from the Conference.
We have had many enquiries about the speakers and how best to connect with them. We as an Association source our speakers through Deb Claxton | Claxton Speakers International. This wealth of expertise and experience is what we as an Association draw on each year.
The State Executive and I have been a part of several Primary Principal Council meetings this week and to be part of the camaraderie in the room has been simply a joy. Exciting times as new PPC Executive and contacts are nominated and elected. I would like the sincerely thank those of you who have served in these roles – truly valued and important as the work of the PPC’s bring the voice of the Association to the fore.
Before the end of term, please take the time to call in on a colleague and let them know how much you have valued their company this year. Be the bright spot and remind a colleague that they matter.
‘It is important that educators find ways to be around other educators who are equally as passionate about their job. We all need to be encouraged, inspired, and validated in what we do.’
NSWPPA Professional Learning Officer:
This week we farewell Margaret Charlton our founding PLO. Margaret has indeed set the stage for the NSWPPA to be a leading provider of Professional Learning for Principals and Middle Leaders across NSW and indeed internationally. I know the membership join me in thanking her and acknowledging her incredible expertise in this area and her initiative in securing a world class suite of professional learning for the Association. What legacy she leaves! Margaret is to be acknowledged for her work with the NSWPPA Leadership Standing Committee and the School Leadership Institute. Colleagues across NSW salute and acknowledge the work she has done and her incredible contribution to Public Education. We wish Margaret all the very best wishes as she steps into retirement (again!).
Following a rigorous EOI recruitment process, I am delighted to announce Drew Janetzki |Principal Fern Bay PS will step into the Professional Learning Officers role for 2023. Drew comes with a formidable record of leadership, in schools, professional learning, Chairperson of the Technology Reference Group with a commitment to innovation and creativity – growing the current suite of high impact professional learning and identifying and delivering professional learning responding to the needs of the profession is his brief. Join me in welcoming Drew to the role.
We warmly welcome these colleagues to the Principalship - a noble and rewarding profession – such a privilege to lead a school through the successes and celebrations as well as through periods such as these. Together with our staff, students and communities we lean on our colleagues and share in our next steps. Please know there is much support available to our early career principals including your mentor, Principal School Leadership, Primary Principal Council Executive and colleagues as well as the NSWPPA Executive and Professional Support Officers – Wendy Buckley 0403 560 814, Geoff Scott 0427 451 359 and Phil Seymour 0412 673 378. I am also available at the end of the phone anytime, email or text 0429 547 619.
Rosalie |
Mooney |
Tulloona Public School |
Cassandra |
Marsh |
Clunes Public School |
Samuel |
Bowkett |
Blakebrook Public School |
Joanne |
Collins |
Wyndham Public School |
Jonathon |
Thomas |
Broken Hill Public School |
Elizabeth |
Gleeson |
Railway Town Public School |
Damien |
Eyles |
Lake Albert Public School |
Natasha |
Eyles |
South Wagga Public School |
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome – your communities are very fortunate to have you. Remember to update your details on the NSWPPA website so your contact details are accurate and you are contactable.
The NSW Public Schools Millennium Marching Band
The NSW Public Schools Millennium Marching Band is a dynamic music ensemble full of energy and drive with a focus on fun and entertainment.
The band rehearses one weekend each month at Galston High School.
If you have band students in year 6 going into year 7 in 2023 please share the below flier.
Last week I was privileged to attend the 17th Annual Nanga Mai Awards 2022 hosted by the Aboriginal Outcomes and Partnerships Directorate at Sydney Opera House.
How proud we can be of the students, staff and community members who were recognised. It was in awe I sat listening to the citations read and seeing deserving recipients stand on the stage. Congratulations to students both primary and secondary who were acknowledged for their incredible efforts, and achievements. The ‘Public Education family’ was well and truly on show.
Two of our Principal colleagues were recognised also. These awards were presented to Department of Education employees who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and capacity building among staff, schools and the school community with an ongoing commitment to improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal and /or Torres strait Islander students.
Join me in congratulating:
Joanne Graham | Principal Kurnell Public School
Outstanding Leadership in Aboriginal Education Award
Bryce Walker | Principal Glebe Public School
Outstanding Contribution to Educational Achievement by a Non-Aboriginal Staff Member Award
And, one of our well known and truly remarkable corporate colleagues was also recognised:
Leah Anderson | Director, School Recruitment and Placement | School Workforce
Recognition Award | Connected Communities Award for Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Education
Great acknowledgement of our colleagues and the staff, students and communities who were the proud recipients of these awards – so very deserving!
What we have been across and in the room for this term:
The State Executive, Chairpersons and members of the Reference Groups, Standing Committees and Working Parties have been integral to conversations and actions forward in the areas:
IER Restrictive Practices – fortnightly meetings | Financial Management Reference Group | PCM recruitment | PSL recruitment | Minister and Secretary Awards | Global Leaders Network | PSL and EV Working Group | State Executive Meetings | PES Conference | Temporary to Permanent Conversion Revisit | Simplifying School Budgets | Small Schools Curriculum Reform Release and Funding | Quality Time Initiative | Voice of Schools | Amplification Project | Fathering Project Meeting | SLI Advisory Board | Education Provision Forum | Rewarding Excellence | Sentral and PPA | School Excellence | SPX School Education Advisory Board | School Improvement and Education | PSO Meetings | Principal Wellbeing Strategy | P&C Federation – 100 years panel |School Excellence in Action | SPC and PPA Meetings | Minister’s Office Conversations | Minister’s Meeting | NSWPPA and DoE Engagement Forum | APPA Conference | NATSIPA and Te Akatea Principals’ Conference | Syllabus Launch | PES Principals Reference Group | Curriculum Implementation Meetings | Resourcing and Funding Issues | SLI Advisory Board Meeting | Quality Time Solution Updates | Curriculum Reform Response | PSL and EV Working Group | ACARA Discussions | Federation of P&C Agreement conversations | Pre EMM PPA and SPC | Performance Agreement Conversations | Public Education Foundation forums | PLO Recruitment | State Executive Meetings| School Excellence Work Group | DoE Staff Wellbeing Strategy Interview | SASSPA Executive Introduction | Black Dog Institute Working Group| RG WP and SC Meetings and PPC Meetings and Conferences.. just to share a few …
There was strong representation this term from our State Delegates, Observer Delegates Chairpersons and State Executive. Your Delegates will have or will be giving you a comprehensive report regarding all matters discussed and covered. All questions not canvassed in the designated panel sessions have been sent to relevant personnel and once returned will be distributed to the Delegates.
In terms of follow up, I have requested a meeting with Mark Barraket (replacing Lisa Alonso Love) Ben Ballard and Helen Parker so I can circle back to their presentation |Rural and Remote Education Policy/Strategy. I am chasing a date this term so that we have a clear line of site about actions and next steps. The NSWPPA Executive, Rural Education Standing Committee and its members need to be ‘in the room’ on these matters. We seek clarity about the work this team are covering and actioning and the impact as well as what other sections of the Department need to be involved to address the needs of our schools, staff and students.
So many of us have sent students to Stewart House and those students will never forget the most amazing experiences they had and the opportunities they were afforded. Like all settings, the pandemic has impacted on Stewart House’s ability to continue to provide the program for students as they always have. Most recently, there has been a return to the facility for some 80+ students a fortnight. The Board are undertaking plans for the next 90 years of Stewart House. High level negotiations with government and stakeholders have commenced for a modern facility. The current facility has challenges meeting building standards, accessibility, and accommodation limitations.
Next week, Michael Coutts Trotter | Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Georgina Harrisson |Secretary Department of Education, Angelo Gavrielatos | President NSW Teachers Federation, Stewart Little | General Secretary NSW Public Service Association | Craig Petersen | NSWSPC President and I are meeting at Stewart House to film a six minute video talking about the value of Stewart House. This video will be widely available for PPC’s to use to profile the incredible work of Stewart House.
Operating costs for Stewart House have been maintained most recently with the receipt of two substantial bequests, the Small Business Grant and Job Saver payments. It is however projected that 2022 will result in a $500K shortfall. There has been a yearly decline in revenue from the salary contribution scheme specifically targeting NSW Public Education employees. In the past, donations from department staff and students funded 100% of the organisation’s annual operating expenses. Now less than 10% of the NSW Education staff make donations to Stewart House and this now covers 30% of annual operating costs. Stewart House is seeking the support of the Education community.
SAVE THE DATES in your 2023 Calendars | APPA and NSWPPA Conference:
2023 Australian Primary Principals’ Conference | Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart
DATE: Sunday 30 July – Wednesday 2 August 2023
2023 NSWPPA Conference | Sofitel Wentworth Sydney
DATE: Term 4 Week 3 Tuesday 24 – Friday 27 October 2023
The Power of Connection | Deputy President Bob Willetts
The Power of Connection – A “Social Prescription” for enhanced health and wellbeing
I wanted to round out 2022 with a noticing, a reflection on research, and an action for 2023.
The Noticing – Connection enhances wellbeing
At the end of the APPA conference, I spoke to Vicki Harris about how positive and upbeat everyone was and said I’d be interested to know how everyone felt coming into the conference versus how they felt as they were leaving conference. Thankfully Vicki immediately changed the conference evaluation survey! The results showed that the time spent connecting with colleagues who are equally passionate about our moral purpose has a positive impact on our health and wellbeing.
The reflection on research
I reflected on Kristen Douglas’ Headspace presentation for the PPA last year on “Social, Emotional, Relational, Leadership: Leaning in to 2022”. Kristen talked about “Social Prescribing” where medical professionals are prescribing social contact to improve health and wellbeing outcomes. Research in 2019 found over 90% of GPs and allied health professionals believe that referring patients to non-medical services in the community is extremely helpful for improving health and wellbeing outcomes.
So, the implication of the noticing and research for us all is …. GET CONNECTED TO YOUR TRIBES FOR YOUR HEALTH AND THEIRS!!!
The action for 2023
Kristen even gave us a checklist to help us with the social prescription. The only thing we have to do in actually use it!
I encourage everyone to look at then checklist below with your team and use it as a basis to continue to intentionally be the “architects of recovery” for yourself, your staff, students and your community.
If you missed Kristen’s presentation “Leaning into 2022”, the recording is available in the Members area of the NSWPPA Website.
It’s a great resource to help springboard into 2023.
Recording of Suspension and Behaviour data | Vice President Leah Martin
Where should our school enter behaviour and suspension data (including formal cautions)?
If your school doesn’t use third-party software:
- You should enter this data in ERN (this functionality by the department systems is now available in ERN and not in ebs).
- You must enter data relating to formal cautions and suspensions.
- You may choose to also enter behaviour data, but this is not a requirement under the policy.
If your school does use third-party software for wellbeing (Sentral, Compass, etc)
- You should enter this data into your third party software.
- You must enter the data relating to formal cautions and suspension
- You may choose to also enter behaviour data, but this is not a requirement under the policy.
- You should only enter the data once into your third-party vendor software and there is no need to double data entry into ERN.
- If you enter this data into your third-party software, it will not appear in ERN at this stage, but you can trust that it is being captured correctly (even though you can’t see it in ERN). You do not need to also enter this data into ERN.
- Behaviour and suspension data will be available in SCOUT soon and ERN in the near future, but at this stage will not appear in these platforms.
Suspension Data relating to suspensions prior to Term 4.
The new procedures relate to suspensions and formal cautions from the first day of Term 4 2022 onwards, when the new Student Behaviour Policy was implemented.
If you need to enter data relating to a suspension from any time prior to Term 4, you must enter it into ERN, if you did not already do so in ebs, prior the new changes Day 1, Term 4).
You may choose to also enter it in your third-party software, but this means you will need to enter it twice.
Administration Management Panel for Schools (AMPS) | Vice President Leah Martin
Student Finance modules will be available from third party vendors very soon. EBS Cashdesk will be in place until June 2024 so schools have time to consider the products available and make the right decision for their context.
On behalf of the NSWPPA Executive: Bob Willetts, Rob Walker, Michael Burgess, Leah Martin, Trish Peters, Norma Petrocco, Greg McLaren, Michael Trist, Stuart Wylie, Scott Sanford, Mark Pritchard, Lisa Beare and Drew Janetzki, we wish you a fabulous Week 9 …. Only a few weeks to go!
Robyn Evans
NSWPPA President