It is hard to remember the warmth of summer and the enthusiasm with which we

entered the new school year. Lockdown level 4 has tested our resilience and demonstrated that we should expect the unexpected in our life journey. It has also shown us how strong we can be. I am proud of the way we prioritised our most vulnerable people and sought to manage the impact of this terrible virus. I am also mindful of the great fiscal impact this has had on many families and communities as they face an uncertain future with regard to employment. We must work hard to retain those children whose parents have been financially impacted by COVID-19. I trust that our faith traditions will be reflected in our charity to others as we go through this year.

We are equally proud and heartened by the stories that have been shared by so many of you in the way you managed this challenge. We loved the way you show how you have embraced isolation, distance learning and faith based culture. I recommend you look at our web site where we have posted some of the insights we have on what has taken place. The leadership of our principals and the commitment of our staff is worth celebrating. We have been impressed by the way students have stepped up and managed the loss of school camps, sport, school formals and productions and found other ways to support each other. It is important to remember these good things as we work our way back to some kind of normal.

The next few months will challenge us all. What will keep us together is the great hope we get from the religious traditions that underpin our Special Character. Finding strength from that mission and ensuring no one is lost to our schools will be hard, but it is important for us to model what we believe.

No one knows the extent of this financial hardship as yet. Only time will reveal what we must actually deal with but, planning now to support families in our schools will be important preparation for what is to come. You will have received a separate letter for your communities from the New Zealand Catholic Bishop’s Conference and NZCEO and we hope this will provide some assurance as we navigate the future.

NEW CEO for APIS and NZCEO

I am delighted to add my support to the appointment of Dr Kevin Shore as the new CEO of NZCEO and APIS. His introductory letter has already been circulated but we attach it again to ensure a wide section of our community have the opportunity to welcome him and support his transition to this new role.

Ngā mihi nui

Paul Ferris

Dr Kevin Shore has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the NZ Catholic  Education Office,  replacing

Mr Paul Ferris QSM, who is retiring at a date to be set later this year. Dr Shore will be Chief Executive of both NZCEO and the Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools (APIS).

Dr Shore is currently the Principal of St Peter’s College, Palmerston North, and previously Principal of Cullinane College, Whanganui. He has a Doctorate of Education, a Masters in Educational Administration, a Post Graduate Diploma in Technology Education; and an NZ Civil Engineering Certificate (from a previous life!). His leadership has been in both state and state integrated schools over the past 25 years.
Following his doctorate, he has been published in a number of professional journals as he focused on growing leadership in our schools.

Dr Shore has a strong commitment to te Tiriti o Waitangi. He has a genuine commitment to equity in education, and supports the practice of akonga and whānau (student and family) because of the way it aligns with the social justice focus of our school communities. He was fortunate to be accepted for a special equity-focused leadership course at Harvard University in 2015. More recently he has been a member of the Ministerial Joint Task Force for reducing the burden of administration and compliance in schools.

Kevin has a solid commitment to the mission of Catholic and other faith-based schools. He has a strong interest in the outdoors and has coached students in various sports over the years. He and his wife Heather are looking forward to moving to Wellington, and the opportunity of working there with sector leaders and representing the interests of integrated schools in many of the forums based in the capital.

Mr Geoff Ricketts, chair of the NZCEO Board, said he was looking forward to welcoming Kevin to the role: “I am sure he will build on the excellent leadership given during the past 25 years, first by Sir Brother Patrick Lynch and then by Paul Ferris.”

Organisations including schools will need to continue preparing themselves for the significant changes that the current Covid-19 crisis is presenting. Leaders will need to upskill to build capacity and manage the change.

The Australian Catholic University is offering a four module virtual online professional learning opportunity, Leading Through Uncertainty for a New Zealand cohort if there are sufficient numbers. This course provides a framework to manage turbulence, optimise risk and take decisive action related to the Covid-19 crisis.  Each module includes one-two hours of prework and three of intensive online participation. For more information see…..

Leading Through Uncertainty Please note the course dates on this flyer are for a previous course and New Zealand dates will be agreed upon with participants.

If you wish to register your interest in a New Zealand cohort contact Rosalie Connors, r.connors@nzceo.org.nz.

Our new Facebook page will contain good news stories and updated information to support your governance or leadership. It will provide us with the opportunity to share the latest news and advice and to show case in a more immediate way the “good news” created by our school communities.

I invite you to ‘Like’ and ‘Share’ our page to keep you updated and connect us all.

Our APIS website will continue to have the resources and information that you need to lead your faith based communities. 

Ngā mihi nui koutou

Paul Ferris
Chief Executive

Education unions share with Education Gazette the importance of teachers prioritising their own mental health and wellbeing in order to be effective in helping their students, whānau and communities.  

To read more about supporting teachers through COVID-19 click here.

Below are some helpful resources: 

Teaching Council NZ wellbeing resource includes case studies and values which provide an anchor to navigate difficult and challenging times.   

Teaching Council NZ teacher wellbeing podcast episode featuring Professor Meihana Durie and psychologist Jacqui Maguire about the importance of teachers taking care of themselves and each other.  

Ministry of Health resources and advice.  

Mental Health Foundation’s tips on getting through COVID-19. 

Depression.org strategies for coping with stress and anxiety around Covid-19.   

PPTA’s mental health and wellbeing paper from PPTA Tāmaki Makaura, Auckland.  

School and Ministry of Education employees can attend counselling through EAP at either subsidised or free sessions.     

Practical tips from a psychologist specialising in pandemics and disaster recovery.  

Ideas to support working from home. 

Aroha can be accessed via http://tiny.cc/aroha and is accessible for all young adults across the country with an internet connection.

To read more about Aroha click here

Resilience in the face of adversity isn’t a fixed personality trait. Resilience is an ability we can help children build. This is an important fact for children who suffer from a serious illness or experience a grievous loss or setback.  

What are the best ways that parents can support traumatised children?

Tell them they are loved and are not alone. Children need to hear this over and over again.

Show them that they matter. This is the question children ask as they grow up: Do I make a difference to others? Do other people notice me, care about me and rely on me? When young people think that they don’t matter, they’re more likely to engage in self-destructive and antisocial activities, or simply withdraw. 

Companionship. Parents and other adults can make a difference simply by walking alongside troubled children and listening with undivided attention, forming warm relationships, communicating openly and allowing children to talk about their thoughts and fears.  

Discuss coping mechanisms. These can include understanding that: 

It’s okay to be sad and take a break from any activity and cry. 

It’s okay to be happy and laugh. 

It’s okay to be angry and jealous of friends and relatives who are not suffering. 

It’s okay to say to anyone that we do not want to talk about it now. 

It’s okay to ask for help,

Establish positive rituals. This could be something like a family dinner time practice of each person sharing the best and worst moments of the day – the things that made them sad and those that made them grateful.  

Embrace family history. Having a sense of their roots builds children’s sense of mattering, of being connected to something larger than themselves. This includes knowing where their parents and grandparents grew up, what their childhoods were like and how the family fared in good times and bad. 

Keep memories alive. Remembering a loved one who has been lost builds mental health and even physical health over time. 

Acknowledgement: “How to Build Resilient Kids, Even After a Loss” by Sheryl Sandberg in The New York Times, April 24, 2017

'The situation we are currently facing is the largest change many of us are likely to see in our entire lives. So, of course, there are going to be some significant changes'

'We know that change can be stressful'.  Michael looks at what are normal reactions to this.

Michael Hempseed has provided an audio file and text on "What is a normal response to the COVID-19 pandemic?"

Michael is the author of 'Being a True Hero Understanding and Preventing Suicide in Your Community and has presented "Could your failure save a person's life? at TEDxDarwin in 2016.