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He Pitopito Kōrero
Update – 16 August 2022

16 August 2022
Home
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he pitopito kōrero

He Pitopito Kōrero

Update – 16 August 2022
FOREWORD

Kia ora koutou,

Today was the first virtual school leaders hui where Education Minister Hipkins and Associate Education Minister Tinetti spoke on navigating leadership in a COVID-disrupted world. It was great that so many principals were able to join, if you couldn’t make this one you can catch the presentations on the ‘navigating leadership’ hui below.

Over the next couple of weeks there will be virtual workshops with the intention of coming together and sharing how leaders, Te Mahau, Government and whānau can work together to productively use the disruption caused by a COVID-19 to change teaching practice. Although, it will be challenging to keep an eye on the future.

Kia pai wiki,

Iona

Mask wearing in Term 3

Thank you for your continued efforts to keep transmission of COVID-19 and winter illnesses to a minimum.

Increased levels of winter illnesses at the start of term are a common trend and when coupled with COVID-19, these can put significant pressure on your schools and communities. The Ministry of Health modelling in July shows that numbers of severe respiratory illness cases, including both COVID-19 and flu, are well down. Your efforts will have certainly contributed to this outcome.

Mask wearing when indoors continues to play an important role in minimising transmission of COVID-19 and winter illnesses, coupled with all your other layers of protection.

Schools can continue to include measures beyond those required under the COVID-19 Protection Framework. Case numbers in your community, winter illness absences and any vulnerability within your school community will inform your decisions.

COVID-19 Protection Framework for schools and kura – Te Mahau

Under the framework, when at Orange traffic light setting, masks must be worn by ākonga aged 12 and above on school and public transport. It is also strongly recommended by public health officials that face masks are worn by students and staff in Year 4 to 13 when indoors, including combined classes when learning and during indoor assemblies.

Returning to school following illness

Some of the wording provided in the winter wellness guidance we provided in our bulletin on 2 August didn’t differentiate clearly between respiratory illness and stomach bugs.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that the guidance for returning to schools following vomiting or diarrhoea has not changed. If a child is free of those symptoms for 48 hours, they can attend school again. We have updated the winter wellness guidance for parents, caregivers and whānau to reflect the following points:

  • If a child has been unwell with a respiratory illness other than COVID-19, they can return to school 24 hours after they have significantly improved and are behaving/eating normally.
  • Following vomiting or diarrhoea, a child should be symptom free for 48 hours before they can return.
  • If they still have a runny nose or dry cough without any other symptoms such as a fever, vomiting or diarrhoea, then they are unlikely to be infectious and can be considered well enough to attend school.
  • In general, a doctor’s certificate or clearance should not have to be provided for a child to go back to school after being unwell.

To read our winter wellness advice go to:

Winter wellness guide for tamariki [DOCX, 22.0 KB]

Ventilation devices in Term 3

As outlined in the 21 July bulletin, and in our email to schools on 26 July, we have now issued additional portable air cleaners, CO2 monitors and associated printed material to state and state-integrated schools across New Zealand. These devices will have already arrived or be arriving at your school shortly.

The distribution was automatic unless your school responded to the 26 July email to opt out of receiving the devices. If you missed the deadline to opt out and now have devices surplus to your requirements, we encourage you to contact local schools to see if they have a need.

If you need help redistributing ventilation devices, contact ventilation.mailbox@education.govt.nz

Further information about ventilation in schools and devices can be found on our website:

Ventilation in schools – Te Mahau

Provision of RAT kits

Just a reminder that for the majority of schools, once you have exhausted your Ministry supply of rapid antigen test (RAT) kits you will need to advise symptomatic staff and students to get a kit from a community collection point. You cannot order bulk supplies of RAT kits for your school from these collection points.

Specialist schools, specialist provisions and school hostels

RAT kits will, however, continue to be distributed to specialist schools, specialist provisions and school hostels to allow for twice weekly asymptomatic testing for staff on a voluntary basis over winter (until the end of Term 3 in September). 

This recognises the greater vulnerability of students in specialist schools and specialist provisions, and that students in school hostels are living in a residential setting where transmission risks remain higher than in other settings. 

If you are eligible for asymptotic testing and need more RAT kits, contact rapidantigen.testordering@education.govt.nz.

Further information about asymptomatic testing is available on our website:

Rapid antigen tests – Te Mahau

Today a special online hui on navigating leadership in a COVID- disrupted world was led by Education Minister Chris Hipkins and Associate Education Minister Jan Tinetti.

If you were unable to join, you can view what the Ministers said at the link below (available from 17 August):

Navigating leadership hui for school principals – Ministry of Education

There are more online kōrero opportunities next week. Two events on Monday 22 August and Tuesday 23 August will give you a chance to share your experiences and effective practice with other tumuaki on re-engaging our ākonga.

If you’d like to join the conversation, it’s not too late to register:

Navigating leadership hui registration – Ministry of Education

Reflections on navigating COVID-19: Part 8

Erika Ross and Steve Lindsey talk to more principals about their experiences with leading their school communities through the pandemic.  

Watch these new video summaries:

Allenton School: Leveraging support from the community

Enner Glenn School: Getting back on track

Burnside High School: The Covid Queen

You can find the series so far on the Te Mahau website:

Navigating Covid-19: School leaders reflect – Te Mahau

Employment Court clarifies application of ‘call back’ provisions for secondary teachers

The Employment Court has clarified the meaning of “when the school is not open for instruction” in the call back provisions in clause 5.4 of the Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement.

Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement – Ministry of Education

In NZPPTA v Board of Trustees for Rodney College, the court found that in addition to weekends, public holidays, Easter Tuesday and vacations, secondary schools are “not open for instruction” before 8.30am and after 4.30pm on days during the school term. 

NZPPTA v Board of Trustees for Rodney College [PDF, 519 KB]

This means that secondary schools can still require teachers to be at school or elsewhere for professional development or administrative purposes before 8.30am and after 4.30pm, but that these will be call backs under clause 5.4 and subject to the constraints in that clause.

Among other things, this means that teachers will be entitled to be reimbursed for any actual and reasonable costs incurred.

For further information, email our employment relations team for information employment.relations@education.govt.nz.

Hei Raukura Mō te Mokopuna draft and Literacy and Communications & Maths action plans launched

Last week we launched the draft action plan for ‘Hei Raukura Mō te Mokopuna’ and the ‘Literacy & Communication and Maths’ action plans. These plans outline the actions needed to better support the teaching and learning for kaiako and ākonga over the next few years.  

The actions align with other work already underway and will be implemented gradually. All changes will be supported with resources and guidance for kaiako and leaders, so that you can effectively manage transitions in your place of learning.  

Find out more and read the action plans here: 

Hei Raukura Mō te Mokopuna draft action plan – Kauwhata Reo 

Literacy & Communication and Maths Action Plans – Ministry of Education 

If you have queries on the action plans, contact:

Hei Raukura Mō te Mokopuna: Whakahou.marautanga@education.govt.nz.

Literacy & Communications and Maths strategy: Literacy.communication.maths@education.govt.nz.

Physical restraint: Moving to online reporting

As of yesterday Monday 15 August schools are able to submit reports on physical restraint incidents using an online form.

The incident form itself hasn’t changed, just the way you fill it out and submit it.

  • You’ll now access the form through the community portal using your ESL (Education Sector Logon) and a role provided by your principal/delegated authority.
  • You can still use the old manual reporting process until 7 February 2023.

Why have we made this change?

Using an online form:

  • is simple to fill in and once submitted it will automatically start managing the incident 
  • means support groups receive reports in real time
  • will allow us to provide you with more timely support
  • has reporting functionality which allows easy dissemination of information to parents, whānau and caregivers.

In addition to the online form, we have also added a new role that your delegated authoriser can assign to school staff to access the form. This role is ‘physical restraint school user’.

If you need support assigning the role, ESL training module(s) are still available for a refresher.

ESL delegated authoriser training – Ako Learning Management System

Further information

Check out our website for more information.

Minimising physical restraint in schools and kura – Ministry of Education

Once the online form is live, you’ll find an instructional video with guidance on how to use the system there.

Updated designing schools in Aotearoa NZ standards

We have released an updated designing schools in Aotearoa NZ (DSNZ) standards document.

The DSNZ sets out our expectations on design standards for schools, and this newly updated version provides clearer requirements and guidelines to streamline the design process.

What’s been updated?

We have updated our requirements in key areas such as inclusive schools, barrier-free access, sustainability and schools that support learner wellbeing.

The updated DSNZ is now mandatory for all new projects. It will be mandatory from Thursday 1 September for projects that haven’t started preliminary design.

You can read more about the requirements and download the standards on our website:

Designing schools in Aotearoa NZ standards – Ministry of Education

If you have any queries, contact school.design@education.govt.nz.

New principal eligibility criteria and leadership advisory roles

We are expanding consultation on two initiatives that aim to strengthen school leadership by increasing the support structure for education workforce leaders. 

Principal eligibility criteria

The principal eligibility criteria (PEC) has been developed by an independent drafting team who were nominated by NZEI, PPTA and Mātauranga Iwi Leaders Group. The purpose of the criteria is to provide guidance to school boards and potential applicants on the skills and attributes a principal should have to successfully support their school and kura in their leadership position.

This document is a working draft informed by contributions from a working group of principals, school board members, NZSTA, NZPF, Te Akatea and the Teaching Council.

You can find the consultation document here:

Principal eligibility criteria – Ministry of Education

Kaupapa Māori peak bodies will formulate their own version of the PEC and we will share more details on this soon.

Leadership advisor roles

We are currently consulting with the sector on the newly established role of leadership advisor. As you indicated in The Tomorrow’s School report we will ensure that you have more timely, responsive, and localised support provided by highly skilled and trusted professionals. These roles will support school leaders on teaching and learning with the wider aim of improving outcomes for ākonga.

View this short video to find out more:

MOE leadership final – Vimeo

Have your say

We are hosting a series of online workshops throughout August and September. At these workshops, you’ll have a chance to review and feedback on the draft PEC and the 21 new LA roles currently being established. The feedback we’ve received from you will help shape decisions about the roles, allocation and recruitment process. The final draft of the PEC will be available later this year.

To register to attend the online workshops:

PEC and LA consultation workshop – Calendly

Alternatively, you can also provide written feedback at the below links:

Principal eligibility criteria feedback form – Ministry of Education (by Friday 30 September)

Leadership advisor roles survey – Ministry of Education (by Wednesday 31 August)

Circular 2022/07: Initiation of bargaining notice for primary school principals

Circular 2022/07 has been published on our website and is about the initiation of bargaining for the renewal of the Primary Principals’ Collective Agreement.

Circular 2022/07: Notice to initiate bargaining – Ministry of Education

Employers must let any employees who may be covered by these collective agreements know about the upcoming bargaining.

Further information on the bargaining is available from the NZSTA.

Have your say: NCEA level 2 draft subject materials

In last week’s bulletin we mentioned that as part of the ‘Accord teacher-only days – ngā rangi mō ngā kaiako-anake’, from Monday 15 to Friday 26 August, we are seeking your feedback on Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (TMoA) and the first group of The New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) NCEA level 2 draft materials:

Teacher-only days – NCEA Education

Accord teacher only days for secondary schools – School Bulletin 9 August

Feedback on the NCEA level 2 draft materials can be provided through online engagements with kura or through the following online feedback surveys:

Your feedback will be used to refine the achievement standards and supporting resources, in preparation for:

  • a planned mini-pilot of all TMoA NCEA level 2 wāhanga ako and NZC NCEA level 2 te reo Māori in 2023
  • full pilots of all TMoA NCEA level 2 wāhanga ako and NZC NCEA level 2 subjects in 2024.

If you have any queries, email them to ncea.review@education.govt.nz.

‘Why does money matter?’ video competition

Talking about money is important for improving financial confidence and well-being, and these conversations start young. We invite schools to participate in this year’s ‘Why does money matter?’ video competition.

The competition is open to Year 1 to 13 and is designed to promote financial literacy among ākonga. Entries can be submitted as individual or in groups and consist of creating a short video about ‘good money habits’. The entries will go in the draw to win $10,000 worth of prizes.

To read more about the competition and register go to:

Money and you school competition – Financial Services Council New Zealand

Reminder: infrastructure sector forum

The infrastructure sector forums are an opportunity for us, alongside representatives from your school, to share information on school infrastructure. This covers property, transport, ICT and technology in schools. 

We will be hosting an infrastructure sector forum on 23 August from 4–5pm. The forum will be held on Teams. Register your interest in the link below:

Infrastructure sector forum – Eventbrite

This upcoming session will provide an update on the following:

  • three waters programme
  • technology in schools
  • designing schools in Aotearoa New Zealand (DSNZ)
  • te haratau.

Email us at hangangamatihiko.engagement@education.govt.nz if there is a topic that you’d like to discuss at a future forum, or if you would like to provide any feedback on the timing of the session.  

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