Kōtui: School & Policy Updates - Term 1 Issue 2 2024 (NZCEO)

TĒNĀ KOUTOU KATOA: Editorial by Dr Kevin Shore, CEO

Kia ora koutou

I had the pleasure recently of helping to facilitate a two day programme for a group of first time principals of state integrated schools in Wellington. These emerging leaders are entering the school leadership space at a time of great complexity and where there are clearly deep fractures emerging within society at both the national and international level. One of the significant advantages for the state integrated sector in responding to this complexity are our special character values which provide our school leaders and staff with the ability to build a school culture that affirms the innate dignity of every child. The strong focus on the holistic development of the child which supports their spiritual, educational, physical and emotional needs is strengths based and provides the child with the best opportunity to thrive. However, the strong focus on building a religious or philosophical school culture adds a layer of further complexity in ensuring school leaders in our sector are formed and provided with professional growth opportunities that acknowledge the skills needed to lead a state integrated school.

Over the two days in Wellington, I had the opportunity to sit and reflect as various guest speakers spoke to the first time principals about leadership in a special character school, the qualities of successful principals, the challenges of the role and the importance of resilience and leading a healthy lifestyle. It must seem quite daunting; however, my overriding impression was of a group who were inspired by their role, keen to be challenged and open to taking on new ideas. They talk about being tested by the stresses of the role but their sense of vocation and commitment to the special character of the school was never in question. I could not help but feel uplifted by the energy in the room and it was awesome to witness their desire to serve and so my hope was that they will be nurtured and cared for in their communities. Both the individual principal and the school board have a role to play here.

The Education Review Office has identified the quality of leadership in a school as one of the most important factors in determining the ongoing health and effectiveness of a school. Given that the leadership of our school principals is so important, I would hope that our school boards of state integrated schools have had conversations with their school principals and are working with their leaders to ensure that strategies are in place to promote their ongoing health. A healthy and high functioning principal is so important to the effective functioning of the school, however, most principals work in an environment characterised by significant stress and pressure. They need the support of the board to ensure they bring a sense of balance to their professional and personal life so they can perform optimally in the best interests of the students and families that each school serves. A strong partnership between the school board and the principal is imperative.

The New National Led Coalition Government

APIS has requested meetings with both Minister Stanford and Minister Seymour in recent weeks. At the time of writing, APIS has a scheduled meeting with Minister Seymour on the 20^th March and we are hoping for a favourable response from Minister Stanford in the coming days. These meetings are crucial in allowing the sector to express their voice to the Minister while providing an opportunity for the government to outline it’s short to medium term plans for education. In preparation for these meetings APIS has prepared a briefing paper which you can access  here:

Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools: Briefing for Minister of Education

The National Education Leaders Partnership Forum (NELPF)

In February, education sector leaders met to facilitate the re-formation of the NELPF.  The NELPF is a collection of all the peak body organisation leaders and was convened to discuss the state of the education sector and to provide feedback to the incoming minister regarding the issues that the collective believes are important in our education system. APIS is very clear in what is important regarding our own identity, agenda and to the state integrated sector, however, where there are areas of common concern in education NELPF can bring a strong voice to the debate. At the first meeting, those areas of common concern included the need for a long term vision of education in Aotearoa, the continuation of the free school lunches programme (even though the EQI has not done state integrated schools any favours here), further investment in learning support to meet a strong growth in demand, development of a workforce strategy to mitigate the current staffing crisis and the continuing commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The NELPF collective has written to the Minister Stanford outlining our views.

Essential Property Maintenance Package (EPMP)

As at March 2024, there is still $5-$6M in EPMP funds to transfer to proprietors. APIS is now down to the last 10% of EPMP funding and, as we were expecting, this is proving to be the slowest part of the process. As a sector, we do need to celebrate that 90% of the funds ($47M) has been transferred to proprietors in the first nineteen months of this programme. I would like to commend our stakeholders and the APIS EPMP team for delivering this wonderful outcome despite the economic and environmental challenges over this period. According to our statistics, as at December 2023, there were 466 projects completed and fully funded with another 100 projects in progress – I am sure the new Minister of Education will be impressed by how effectively these funds have been managed and I will certainly be bringing this to her notice.

If you have any concerns at all, please contact our EPMP team using this email contact: apis.epmp@nzceo.org.nz

Finally

The Secretary for Education, Iona Holsted, has recently shared news with the sector that staff savings, in addition to not filling vacancies, must be made to meet the Coalition Government’s cost savings target. For Ministry staff, this has created enormous uncertainty and APIS would like to acknowledge our colleagues in the Ministry of Education (MoE) who are currently going through a difficult review. APIS values the support we receive from a number of colleagues at the MoE and we look forward to better days ahead.

Kevin Shore, Chief Executive Officer

Catholic Education Convention 2024 - Registrations Are Open

Early bird registrations for the 2024 NZCE Convention are currently open. The convention will take place at the TSB Arena in Wellington from 19 - 21 June 2024.

The convention theme: Tūhono Whakapono—Together, one faith community reflects how we establish links, make connections and relate to our sisters and brothers in Christ, who through the shared experience of baptism are kin.

All information relating to the convention including the registration fees, accommodation options, and a draft programme can be found on the convention website.

Early bird registrations will close on Sunday 5th May 2024. We encourage you to book flights, organise accommodation and register now to make the most of these discounted rates.

Calling DRS, Teachers, and Students! - Convention Prayer Room

The planning committee for the 2024 National Catholic Education Convention have designated a special space within the TSB Arena for quiet prayer and reflection. This space will be open every day of the Convention from 7:30am-5pm.

We are inviting staff and students to create and send into NZCEO art pieces and decorated scripture passages that invite us to contemplate the Convention theme Tūhono Whakapono: Together, One Faith Community. These will be displayed in the stair well leading to the prayer room and in the prayer room.

The art works should be:

• No bigger than A2
• Individual or collaborative pieces
• Sent to NZCEO by 10 June 2024:

P.O. Box 12307, Thorndon,                  Mercy Centre

Wellington 6144                       Or       15 Guildford Tce, Thorndon, Wellington

Please indicate on your contribution the name of the creator/s and their school.

We look forward to your wonderful creations!

NZCEO Annual Report 2023 – we need you!

NZCEO were delighted to feature many of our wonderful Catholic schools in our 2022 annual report.

If you would like your school to feature in the annual report for 2023 please share a photo featuring your school by uploading it to our Dropbox account.  Photos need to be high resolution and have permission to publish in our report.  Photos available from school websites are always welcome. This report is for Catholic proprietors and shared with our schools and also features on the NZCEO website.

We look forward to seeing your pictures!

Submissions will close on Thursday 4 April

Official Opening of Marian College

By Mike Nolan, Diocese of Christchurch

Several years in the preparation, the official opening of Marian College was held on February 9 with current and former students and staff on hand to celebrate the occasion. The College's Shirley site could no longer be used after the 2011 earthquake, and after one year of teaching and learning at St Bede's College, Marian relocated to the Catholic Cathedral College site on Barbadoes St for 11 years.

Prior to the official opening, a blessing ceremony took place on November 24^th 2023, and the Chapel of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop was consecrated by Bishop Michael on the December 5^th 2023. The beautiful Chapel is front and centre as you enter the building - acknowledging the centrality of Jesus the Christ and our Catholic faith within the school community.

The new site, on Lydia St in Papanui, creates a walkable Catholic school "hub" for Marian, St Bede's College, St Joseph's Primary School, and the Catholic Parish of Christchurch North. On its new site, Marian will continue to live out the school motto: "With Mary in Faith".

The purpose-built school has received plaudits for its innovative design, which sits under a giant warehouse roof that previously housed the Foodstuffs distribution centre. It is believed to be the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

"You can't see much from the outside because of the warehouse structure, but once you come in it's remarkable," said principal Mary-Lou Davidson. "And so most people are completely blown away by it."

Marian College has also spoken of the sustainable nature of the new school, following Pope Francis' leadership in promoting care for the Earth -- "our common home".

The story of the school’s journey to opening was documented on One News in late November.

Living Wage Schools Campaign

A message from John Kennedy-Good QSM, Member of the Poverty Committee, Ecology Justice and Peace Commission, Archdiocese of Wellington

Living Wage Schools

The Wellington Archdiocese Ecology, Justice and Peace Commission is an         Accredited Member of the Living Wage Movement which comprises 3 broad streams - Union Representatives, Faith Based Representatives, and Community Representatives. As a member of the Poverty Committee of the Commission which is strongly focused on social justice issues, I am a Faith Based Representative on the Governing Council of the Living Wage Movement.

In the era of “Tomorrow’s Schools” I served on School Boards of Trustees; St Patricks College Silverstream for 6 years - 5 of them as Chair, Sacred Heart       College Lower Hutt, and Sts Peter & Paul’s Primary school - also as Chair. I am aware of the challenges faced by Principals and Boards as they struggle to wring the last cent out of the system to benefit their students.

The Living Wage Movement has launched ‘Living Wage Schools’, a campaign     focused on delivering a living wage for the lowest-paid workers in schools, such as cleaners, caretakers, canteen staff, and groundskeepers. These staff members play an indispensable role in the operations of over 2500 schools in Aotearoa. Most of these workers are paid the minimum wage or an amount very close to it, leaving them unable to cover their basic costs or live with dignity. 

We seek your support as we petition the Government to increase the Operation’s Grant to enable schools to pay the Living Wage to school cleaners, caretakers, ground persons, cafeteria staff, all of whom perform functions vital to the health and safety of the school and to the outdoor activities of students.

The Living Wage rate - currently $26 per hour - is independently calculated. Item by item it covers the real cost of living a dignified life - paying rent, food, power, travelling across town to work or to visit family, broadband internet, and importantly      attendance and participation at school activities.

At 64% of the average hourly earnings in NZ the Living Wage is modest, but    meaningful.

We are not proposing to diminish your funding but, with your support, we seek to  increase your Operating Grant to allow you to pay the Living Wage to your most vulnerable employees. Our belief and experience has been that we are most       effective when we combine our efforts - the Government will listen to 2600 Schools and Colleges supporting payment of the Living Wage their lowest paid workers.

As Catholic Schools and Colleges your support is especially relevant to the Living Wage which aligns closely to the concept of a “just wage” that has been ingrained in Catholic social teaching for at least 100 years. Wages must be sufficiently high to adequately provide for families and children, enabling working people to live with dignity and actively participate in society. Pope Francis emphasised in 2013:

“Not paying a just wage, not providing work, focusing exclusively on the balance books, on financial statements, only looking at making personal profit. That goes against God!” 

This was also emphasised by the Auckland Justice and Peace Commission which stated:

 “Working people need wages which allow them to live with dignity and      participate in society. When used in a particular employee employer context the Living Wage calculation makes a valuable contribution towards determining whether wages are just.”

I am personally committed to supporting the Living Wage as the manifestation of the “Just Wage”. We will be present at the New Zealand Catholic Education Convention 2024 and can explain further how the Living Wage is calculated and the massive difference it makes to the lives of those who receive it.

We can also explain how schools can best pledge their support.

I look forward to meeting you.

 To get involved and find out more please go to:

'A Taste of Theology' Lecture Series

These mini-courses in Theology offered through Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College cover a range of topics including Scripture, dogmatic, moral and spiritual theology, Church history, Philosophy, pastoral and liturgical studies and Canon Law. Presenters are lecturers of Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College.

General Information:

Courses will be online via Zoom on Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30PM. Click the link(s) to register. Fee for all courses is $60 (one-off). You can register to all or as many as you want. Sessions will be recorded and made available to all registered participants.

Topics:

Canon law: What are my rights?

09 April 2024, Msgr Dr Brendan Daly

Register here

Celebrating our Christian identity, life and mission rooted in the word of God (Revisiting Dei Verbum, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation)

07 May 2024 Rev Dr Kevin Waldie, SM

Register here

What is Spirituality? The answer depends on what you value. Building a relationship with God is a life-long process of transformation. The key is first figuring out where your heart lies.

04 June 2024 Dr Peter Ryan, FSC

Register here

The Liturgy as an expression of our Christian identity, life and mission. (Revisiting Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on Sacred Liturgy)

02 July 2024 Sr Susanna Yun, PDDM

Register here

What is Philosophy? A short introduction to the fascinations and frustrations of philosophical questioning.

06 August 2024 Rev Dr John Owens, SM

Register here

Christian identity, life and mission in Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church

03 September 2024 Rev Dr Mervyn Duffy, SM

Register here

Vatican II in context: The age of Vatican II

01 October 2024 Mayte Ramos

Register here

Christian identity, life, and mission in the Third Millenium (Revisiting Gaudium et Spes, the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)

05 November 2024 Dr John Evangelista

Register here

Application of Moral Theology to bioethical issues: Working with the Mercy Healthcare Group

03 December 2024 Rev Dr Bernard Teo, CSSR

Register here

Waipawa Primary School Security Case Study

Simplifying access and enhancing security was an administrative necessity for Hawkes Bay’s Waipawa Primary School. The small rural school 30-minutes south of Hastings is home to 310 students and 32 staff and regularly shares it facilities with the wider community. Paul Jamieson, Principal of Waipawa School, was looking for a solution that would streamline access and security, but remained flexible and easy to use. He says security and access is an issue for a number of schools and many he spoke to were unhappy with their current security solution.

Paul chose the Gallagher SMB solution for its cost-effectiveness and simplicity, and since the move he’s been recommending the solution to other schools. “It's just all around been a really good move and it's actually worked out cheaper too. It's better on all fronts,” says Paul. The switch to SMB has also been well received by Waipawa School staff: “It's a hundred times better and we have really happy staff, they love it, even the people that were worried about the change and going to an app. It's been fantastic,” explains Paul. Read more about how Gallagher Security’s SMB solution is empowering Waipawa Primary School by clicking on the link for the full case study.