Lighting New Fires: School & Policy Updates - June 2022 (NZCEO)

TĒNĀ KOUTOU KATOA

Kia tau te rangimārie ki a koutou 

Another budget announcement has come and gone and while there was no significant funding announcement for state integrated schools (unlike 2021 with EPMP) our state integrated school boards will benefit from a number of the funding announcements that apply to all state and state integrated schools. These funding streams will include increased operational funding (which unfortunately does not reflect the current inflation rate), a regional response fund of $40M over four years to meet local education needs, with a strong initial focus on ensuring students are going to school and are engaged in their learning and $18.9M to fund a refresh and enhancement of Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L). There will be a further $29.3M to address attendance and engagement, recognising the issues that many school communities are facing due to the impact of COVID-19 and the resulting ‘disappearance’ of many students off their rolls. 

However, many schools will be wondering what the impact on their organisations of the move to the new equity index (EQI) will be, coupled with losing many students off their rolls due to the pandemic. Twelve months ago, APIS supported a number of state integrated schools who were not identified for the free school lunch programme despite similar school populations and deciles to other schools who were participating. As part of that conversation with the Ministry of Education, APIS met some of the team developing the equity index and we received a brief on its design methodology. It is a more scientific and nuanced method of identifying students at most risk and estimates the extent to which students face socio-economic barriers to achievement at school. The EQI uses anonymised individual level information from the actual students attending schools over the last three years. This is then aggregated up to a school-level to give a more nuanced and up to date picture of the socio-economic barriers faced by the schools’ students. A full explanation can be viewed here.

The move away from the current decile system will be welcomed by many as the decile system has become a de facto measurement of school “quality”. That is not the case, as the decile system was intended to help understand and respond to the relationship between socio-economic circumstances and student achievement. Whether the removal of deciles and the use of the EQI will change this perception and support schools in changing current views linking decile to quality will take time to assess. Within the state integrated education network in Aotearoa New Zealand, we have many examples of low decile, high quality schools and this is something that we should take great pride in and celebrate with these schools. These schools show us how important it is to have high expectations of our young ones, and to value strong community collaboration and action within our schools. These schools also show us the value of beliefs that empower and enhance the dignity of each child, and the teachers who want each child to be the best possible version of themselves. Thank you for the work that our school staff across the motu do on behalf of our precious tamariki and to those parents who support our wonderful state integrated schools. 

Ngā mihi nui ki a koe 

Essential Property Maintenance Package (EPMP) 

The APIS EPMP team have worked hard over the last four weeks to make contact with proprietors whom we have had no contact with regarding an EPMP project. This has been a very valuable strategy as APIS has been able to support some proprietors through the process and provide advice on the steps to take in the process. The EPMP team have asked me to thank all proprietors for the work you are doing on behalf of your school communities. This process has created significant workloads for both the team here at APIS but also for proprietors and their property staff. I said recently in a report to one of the boards I serve on that EPMP fits the old truism of ‘there is no gain without pain’ , it is proving to be very true in this space.  

Please remember to submit a pre-approval application before 31 August 2022 otherwise proprietors will miss out on being able to access these funds. If you have any concerns, please contact APIS.EPMP@nzceo.org.nz, as the APIS position is that we want every eligible state integrated school in New Zealand to benefit from these funds. 

Mr Gifford vs Secretary of Education 

The application for judicial review by Mr Gifford against the Secretary of Education in which NZCEO, on behalf of APIS, is a second defendant was held on Thursday 19th May in the High Court in Wellington. The question that was being argued in court, while expressed simply, is a very important one for both proprietors and school boards of state integrated schools: 

Are there any limitations on the ability of a proprietor of a State integrated school - 

(a) to fund-raise? 

(b) to dispose of funds? 

High Court Judge Peter Churchman will now take about six to eight weeks to deliberate and prepare his finding. From the point of view of the defendants, the Judge appeared well prepared, knowledgeable regarding education law and the legislation that applies to state integrated schools. APIS is grateful to our barrister Lucila van Dam for presenting such a strong case in defence of our proprietors and school boards. APIS and the other defendants now must play the waiting game while the Judge determines his ruling. 

Ngā manaakitanga 

Kevin Shore 

Chief Executive Officer 

New Zealand's Catholic Schools

 Here is a snapshot of the Catholic education sector from the NZCEO 2021 Annual Report. The full report is available at the link below.

Governance update: the work of the board

The work of the board is to ensure that every student achieves their highest possible educational outcomes supported by the Catholic faith and Catholic culture of the school.  All Board members have responsibility for the protection of the Catholic special character of the school as set out in the school’s integration agreement and charter.  The board has key responsibilities in relation to integration and in particular must safeguard:

• Religious Education
• Employment
• Enrolment
• Property

The board ensures the charter, policies and plans reflect the philosophy of Catholic schooling.  For an overview of the key partnerships, processes, policies and systems required to support students to achieve their potential supported by the Catholic culture of the school, visit the BOT handbook site and review the interactive Work of the Board diagram.

Te Kupenga and NZCEO 2022 Catholic Schools Zoom Symposium

Te Kupenga – Catholic Leadership Institute, in association with NZCEO, are hosting a two-session online symposium in 2022. Following feedback from our recent survey we have arranged two speakers and set topics, dates and times. The following are tentative descriptions and solid dates which we are inviting you to set in your calendar. More details will come closer to the time.

Session 1: Aroha Pūmau Holiness – The call to be whole.  A key Te Rama Aroha Cross Theme in the new RE curriculum Tō Tātou Whakapono Our Faith and a critical but often misunderstood area of understanding for Catholic School Communities.

Wednesday 24^th August – 3.30pm – 5.00pm

Professor Peta Goldburg

Peta Goldburg is the foundation Professor of Religious Education at Australian Catholic University and has broad teaching experience at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. 

Peta has played a significant role in curriculum development for teaching religion across Australia and specifically in Queensland writing the QCAA syllabus for Study of Religion in 2000, 2008, and 2018 and Religion and Ethics. Peta has published several textbooks for students including Understanding Religion for Years 7 – 10.  Her most recent student textbook for senior secondary students is Religion: Contexts and Expressions (2020). 

From 2014 to 2019, Peta worked alongside Professor Jim Gleeson on the Identity and Curriculum in Catholic Education Project which focused on embedding Catholic perspectives in the general curriculum.  The culmination of this project is a book edited by Gleeson and Goldburg entitled Faith-Based Identity & Curriculum in Catholic Schools (Routledge 2020).

Session 2: Mana Tapu Grace – From Salads to Sacraments: The presence of God. Another key Te Rama Aroha Cross Theme in Tō Tātou Whakapono Our Faith. An opportunity to think anew about moments of grace as experiences of God in our lives and schools.

Wednesday 9^th November – 3.30pm – 5.00pm

Colin MacLeod

Colin is Director of the National Centre for Religious Studies, which is part of Te Kupenga – Catholic Leadership Institute in New Zealand. Associated responsibilities include leading the journey to Tō Tātou Whakapono Our Faith the new RE curriculum for all NZ Catholic schools.

With over twenty years’ experience as a DRS, he also chairs the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Committee for Interfaith Relations, the Religious Studies Teachers Association of Aotearoa NZ and is involved in various parish and ministry groups in Dunedin. He is also heavily involved in the Ministry of Education review of RS Achievement Standards.
Colin holds Bachelors degrees in theology and Education, a Masters in Educational Leadership and is half-way through a PhD in Education. He is married to Jan, and they have one son, Callum, who is teaching in a Catholic primary school in Auckland.

An Improvement Journey with a Catholic Special Character Focus

An Introduction to the  Catholic Special Character Internal Evaluation Template

Following the publication of He Arotake Whanaketanga mō te Mātauranga Ahurea Katorika-Catholic Special Character Evaluation for Development Catholic State Integrated Schools Aotearoa New Zealand (2022), NZCEO has produced a suite of resources to assist school’s with their Catholic special character internal evaluation. These are to be read in conjunction with your diocesan education offices’ guidelines.   

The suite of resources include: 

• An introduction  
• Catholic Special Character Internal Evaluation Template Example One,  Two and Three 
• A blank Catholic Special Character Internal Evaluation planning template 

These resources are a guide and only one example of how a school may undertake its internal evaluation of Catholic special character.  

Navigating COVID-19: School leaders reflect

Te Mahau (previously referred to as the Education Service Agency) provides services and support for schools, kura and early learning services. The team at Te Mahau have been talking to principals about their experiences of leading their school communities through a pandemic. The stories these principals share highlight the diverse and creative responses of school communities dealing with the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. This project is a work in progress as more stories are being added. You can check out the entire collection so far at this link.

Three of our state integrated schools have been featured so far, their stories are below.

Caritas updates

Day of Prayer for Refugees and Migrants 

This year we celebrate a Day of Prayer for Refugees and Migrants on Sunday 19th June. The theme is TOWARDS AN EVER-WIDER “WE” - A CHURCH THAT REACHES OUT. The Pope reminds us that we should be fostering relationships and welcoming all with open arms. We are one human family.   

A prayer resource has been created for schools to use to mark this day. A link will be sent to all Catholic schools at the end of this week. 

YCC Day 

 Join YCC Day on Friday 8th July! 

The first ever YCC Day is now only a month away. This day continues the legacy of Mufti Mania and invites all Catholic schools across New Zealand to come together to stand in solidarity and raise funds for a selected focus school in need of our support.  

This year we turn our attention to Laura Vicuna School in the Holy Land. This special school began in 1988 and needs our help as they look to fix and repair their toilets, purchase new equipment, as well as round tables for small group learning activities. Students across New Zealand can bring lasting change by simply donating a gold coin and wearing non-uniform.   

Resources are now available on the Caritas website to support students taking part in YCC Day. Students can find out more about the Holy Land and Laura Vicuna School through using these resources. 

Social Justice Week  

  Resources for Social Justice Week (that runs from September 4-10) will be available online before the end of June. All Catholic schools in New Zealand will receive a pack with relevant resources in the last week of this term to help with their planning for this special week.   

Racism is the topic for Social Justice Week 2022 and the title of the Caritas resources is SAY NO TO RACISM. WE ARE ONE IN CHRIST – WHAKAKĀHORETIA TE KAIKIRI. KOTAHI ANŌ TĀTOU I ROTO I TE KARAITI. We acknowledge that this topic is challenging, controversial and highly emotive, however it is also hugely relevant for us given the ‘signs of the times’ and our call as followers of Christ to love our neighbour.   

The Caritas resources include a poster, teacher notes, student learning activities, daily prayers, an action card, a board game, and primary and secondary liturgies. These resources align to Catholic social teaching principles and Scripture, and will challenge students to promote justice, peace, and love.   

You will be able to access all these resources on the Caritas website later this month.

An invitation to explore the Colin Library

The Colin Library’s mission is to serve the students and staff of the College, the NZ Catholic Church, and a wider network within Aotearoa New Zealand. The Librarian and Library Assistant, 60,000 print volumes, 10,000 ebooks, and 850 ejournals are dedicated to serving the needs of library users.

The Colin Library has served the Catholic Church in New Zealand for over a century.  It was created and generously supported by the Society of Mary, in honour of whose founder Jean-Claude Colin the Library is named.

While still prioritising the needs of students at Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College, the Colin Library has recently made membership widely available to those connected with Catholic schools and parishes. A form to join the Colin Library is available at this link. Alternatively email library@ctc.ac.nz

The Colin Library catalogue is available to search for non members, the links below provide a sample of the resources available. 

Members gain access to a wide range of digital resources, including e-books and journals. A highlight is full digital access to the well known UK based International Catholic Weekly The Tablet.

Catholic Character best practices

NZCEO has updated the resources section of our website with a set of examples of best practice in Catholic Character in 2020 / 2021. These examples are drawn from Catholic Character reviews. Examples were combined from 2020 and 2021 reports due to the limited number of reviews undertaken in the two years due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The latest set is available to download below - examples for the last seven years are available here.

National Excellence in Teaching Awards 2022

For more than 25 years, the National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA), has recognised New Zealand’s most outstanding educators. NEiTA is proudly supported by Futurity Investment Group.

NEiTA acknowledges the talented, committed, and caring educators who demonstrate the excellent personal qualities, skills and passion required of educators to direct the lives of future citizens in a fast-changing and uncertain world.

As nominations for this year’s NEiTA Awards open, we please ask you to consider if there’s an unsung education hero you’d like recognised?

Award winners receive a professional development grant of up to $10,000 to further their career and they’ll also be invited to the NEiTA Awards ceremony for a celebration with their peers.

The NEiTA Awards are open for nomination by anyone in the wider school community. You can nominate an outstanding educator for a NEiTA Award now by visiting neita.com The NEiTA Awards are proudly supported by Futurity Investment Group.

Award recipients receive a certificate of recognition, a stunning handblown glass trophy and a $5,000 professional grant. The school principal who wins the NEiTA Founders’ Leadership Award receives a $10,000 professional grant.

Nominations are open till 17 July 2022.

Teamturf Presentation

The specialist team from Teamturf held a Zoom session with proprietors and property managers of state integrated schools last month to introduce themselves and to provide an overview of their product. Their presentation involved answering questions from those in attendance, and providing in-depth information about what Teamturf offers. The recording of this Zoom session is now available online, and if you weren't able to attend at the time, we recommend you watch it to see what is available. Upgrading your school turf may fit in to the criteria for an EPMP project which need to be submitted for approval by August 2022.  

If you would like more information about what Teamturf can offer you can view their website by clicking here or email the team at info@teamturf.co.nz. 

A download link for the PowerPoint slideshow which accompanies the presentation is below.