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As we prepare for release of the 2019/20 budget there is a sense of anticipation that this budget will be a defining moment for the Labour Coalition Government’s relationship with integrated schools. This is not the first time in the history of APIS that we have found it hard to have a close working relationship with the Minister of Education but that distance has usually softened over the first two years of office.
The Budget for 2020 has a number of expectations for integrated schools around Policy Two funding. Most of these expectations have been strongly supported by Ministry staff because they recognise the value that the integrated networks bring to New Zealand Schools and because any new capacity will alleviate the stress that their own network is under from population pressure.
In 2018 Education Minister Chris Hipkins was asked at the meeting of Proprietors in Wellington if it was likely that he would support the establishment of any new integrated schools during his time in office. He expressed his support for that. It is now time for him to show that commitment was genuine.
APIS will meet with Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa at its conference in Wellington in June and we look forward to growing that relationship and to her continuing support for integrated schools. I hope to see many of you at the same event and be ready to enjoy that conversation with the Minister.
Ngā mihi nui,
Paul Ferris
CEO
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION REGIONAL INFASTRUCTURE FORUMS
Key items from Series One 2019 of interest to Proprietors and staff of Integrated schools are:
- Education Infrastructure Service Key Focus Areas for 2019
- EdPay rollout to schools
- Restructure of Ministry website content
- Lessons from the March Christchurch lockdown
- Quality Learning Environments
Click here to read more about these key items of interest.
INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS ASSESSMENTS - ITEAG INFORMATION
The Teaching Council have recently updated their website, to make it clear to prospective teachers with overseas qualifications when they might need to apply to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment (IQA) if they wish to avoid being paid at a lower rate as a teacher than they might otherwise expect.
VISION ZERO
The Ministry of Transport will shortly be seeking feedback on a new strategy that aims to reduce the trauma on our roads. The new strategy is called “Vision Zero” an approach to road safety that says death and serious injuries on our roads is unacceptable and preventable. You can find out more here.
LEARNING SUPPORT CO-ORDINATORS
The Ministry of Education presented their draft plan for the introduction of Learning Support Co-ordinators into school. Principals are encouraged to look at the proposals very carefully when they are released in regards to the implementation of the positions.
RURAL EDUCATION REFERENCE GROUP
Our Deputy CEO, Carol Coddington recently attended the above group's meeting which reminded her that rural schools are often the ones whose students do not get the learning support that they need because distance and inaccessibility. Rural schools, like our State Integrated schools are becoming “magnet” schools for parents who want a personalised, safe school for their children.
St Gerard’s School, Alexandra made the news with pupils helping to plant native shrubs in Alexandra. Click here to see the full article
St John’s College, Hastings made the news about their social enterprise groups aim to create concrete with one of the ingredients being Hawkes’ Bay apples. To read about this wonderful initiative Click here
Student-led signing club creates inclusion: St Mary’s College Wellington student Zoe Ferguson leads the school’s flourishing sign language club. To read more about this click here
St Patrick’s College, Wellington farewells former First XV player Pua Magasiva during rugby match. Click here to read the article.
Hutt International Boy's School, Lower Hutt: The school featured on Seven Sharp about the unbreakable bond between teacher aide and student. Click here to see the clip.
KingsWay College, Auckland: Sarah Thomson (Y13) featured on One News Breakfast Show. Sarah is a member of the Resolution Robotics team that is travelling to USA to compete in the Robotics World Championships. Click here to see the interview.
The book series Horrible Histories provided inspiration for Jonathan Squirrell’s third place entry in the Next Top Coder competition. Jonathan was invited to Microsoft House in Auckland to tour to receive his award. His visit was included in the latest Microsoft News to read the article Click here
Thank you to all the school's that supported Pink Shirt Day on May 17th. This is a day that celebrates diversity and creates environments where all people can feel safe, valued and respected.
St Hilda's Collegiate School, Dunedin: In December 2018 St Hilda's Collegiate won the NZ Secondary Schoolgirls Cricket final. This was their second national title in three years.
Click here to read the article from the Otago Daily Times.
St Joseph's School, Hawera: Reece Holmes is the U13 Oceania Squash Champion after winning all his games at the Oceania tournament.
Kavanagh College, Dunedin: Erika Fairweather broke a 43 year age group record in the 400m Freestyle at the NZ Age Group Championships. To read more and to see this race click here. Erica has been selected to represent NZ at the 2019 FINA Junior World Championships in swimming.
St Dominic's College, Auckland: Hannah Anderson (Y13) is now a World Archery Champion as she won the gold medal in the Young Adult Longbow division at the IFAAWorld Archery Championships.
Baradene College, Auckland: Aimee Blackmore, Jorja Clouth and Alexandra Galvin have all been selcted in the NZU17 Road Cycling Team.
St Peter's College, Auckland: Connor Gallaher (Y13) has been selected in the NZ Chemistry Olympiad team. The Olympiad consists of solving both practical and theoretical problems in two five hour exams.
