Kia ora koutou
2024 Staffing Update
In preparation for 2024 Maungatapere School staffing, I have been working behind the scenes with the leadership team and Board of Trustees to anticipate the implications of the primary teacher collective agreements on school classroom release staffing.
At present teachers get 2 days per term or 8 days per year CRT, where the school employs another teacher to take their class. This release allows extra time to plan, assess or focus on professional development. The new teacher collective agreement will entitle each teacher to (3 days Term 1 & 2, 2024), (4 days term 3 & 4 2024) and (5 days each term from 2025). This effectively takes the total school CRT release from 120 days per year to 300 days in 2025. In 2025 a teacher will have 1 day per fortnight release.
With the CRT coming into effect in 2024 and 2025, the deputy principal’s current organisation will not work. They would be out of class more than in. Therefore, the board of trustees has supported my plan to fully release both deputy principals for 2024.
Permanent classroom teaching positions are now advertised. With one existing position and two new classroom positions, we will be looking at a possible reshuffle of teachers to create the strongest possible teaching teams, at junior, middle and senior levels. This process will take until the end of term. Once, teachers are finalised I will communicate with parent/caregivers to keep you informed. The next stage during Term 4 will be 2024 classroom lists.
Ag Day
‘Lamb and goat Day Care’ numbers were boosted earlier this week, from a lonely lamb to 6 lambs and 1 goat. These animals’ parents have been enjoying taking responsibility and spending time with them. There are many regular student visitors throughout the day to the pens. This is great to see. Just a reminder if the lamb/goat has runny poo, please leave it home so that other animals do not get sick in our ‘Day Care Pen.’ 54 out 334 students have not yet registered for Ag Day. Thank you to all those who have registered. I will follow up with these children to get them to remind parents to register them for their ‘one home project’. Either enter this yourself at this link…. Or email me with your child’s name, room number and project at principal@maungatapere.school.nz and I will enter it.
On Wednesday, baby chicks were delivered to school for very excited children to take home to raise for Ag day. Like many out there, I have 10 lambs at home with more to come, so animals have definitely started arriving on the scene.
Y7/8 Science Fair
It was a pleasure to see science fair alive and well at Maungatapere School in our three senior rooms. The whole school was able to enjoy a walk-through of their exhibits on the 20th of July, where the students were available to explain either their technology or science investigations. Science Fair is a competition, as well as a learning focus for all involved. Twenty of our Y7/8 students have been chosen by our school judges to represent Maungatapere School at the Central Northland Science Fair at Forum North on the 28th of August. I have been impressed with the quality of the whole senior schools exhibits and wish them well at this event. Well done to the following students…
Speeches
On the last week of this term the Y7/8 speech finalists will represent our school at the Maungakahia Valley Lions Speech Competition. As part of preparing students for competitive speeches at Y7/8 level, the Y5/6 syndicate have been enthusiastically writing speeches and increasing confidence speaking in front of an audience. Over the last week, I have had the pleasure of hearing a range of Y5/6 speech topics, as the children have practised either in class, outside or like Vivien through my office window. Vivien, was proud that she had finished her speech, so I asked her to practise on me. I could name many more students and their topics, but what stands out is the infectious enthusiasm of these learners. Today (Wednesday as I write this), the Y5/6 syndicate were sharing speeches together in the hall. I was asked to pick someone who wanted to speak in front the three classes. Many children put up their hands. The school motto of ‘Make it Happen’ is alive and well. Well done to Miss Ruth, Miss Hepi and Mr Kini for encouraging such infectious learning.
The Y7/8 will also be working on speeches with the extra challenge of a competitive competition to select finalists to represent the school. I look forward to more infectious enthusiasm, and children moving outside of their comfort zone.
