Kia ora Koutou,
Welcome back to all students and families. I hope you all got to enjoy the splendid summer weather with some time off to have special times with family and friends.
Contents
- Changes in school leadership and organisation - explanation
- School Term Dates
Changes in school leadership and organisation - explanation
During 2023, I worked with the management team and board to plan for the best possible use of the new increased CRT (Classroom Release Time) that teachers will be getting this year and 2025. As previously communicated our two deputy principal’s will be fully released from the classroom. Last year on average they were in the classroom approximately 50% of the time.
2024 Organisation explained:
Management Team: Principal Terry Brock, deputy principal’s Carolyn Goodison & Rachael Murray
- Monday Management Meeting Terry/Carolyn/Rachael
New Leadership team
- Daniel Cotton junior school leadership
- Kimberly Ruth senior school leadership
Wednesday - alternative weeks Leadership meeting (Includes Management Team)
- First block leadership team meeting (TB, CG, RM, DC, KR)
- Leadership release - Daniel Cotton (every week) – ICT and Within School Teacher
- Leadership release - Kimberly Ruth – alternative week release – sport coordinator – leadership – mentor teacher
Deputy Principal’s will be doing approximately half of the sick leave cover in classes during the year. This means they will be in touch with a wide range of class programmes, learning and students. They will also be covering four different classes Classroom Release Time, as outlined above.
At our recent holiday Whole Staff Administration Day, during the summer break, I asked all of the teachers and support staff to add to our vision and purpose of the management team (Principal + Deputy Principals).
Vision / aims for new leadership structure at Maungatapere School
- to have time to focus on professional leadership and development of curriculum and student learning needs
- to support growth, and confidence within staff professional practice
- to support leadership growth
- to have a consistent fully understood behaviour / learning management plan – this is early Term 1 work with the whole staff and board
- to attend EOTC events and trips to interact and maintain/establish relationships with children i.e release staff to attend personal children’s events (at times)
- management staff will periodically be involved with children’s learning (on a get to know / enjoy
children basis)
- for staff to invite management into celebrate children’s achievements / or just fun learning activities
- for all staff to have the confidence to bring up things that are not working
- possible special intervention groups targeted and or teacher coaching by DP’s for student learning
- once per week management make scones (hmmmm??) Terry is pretty good at making staff scones!
Communication
For parents, a timely reminder that communication is key. If your child’s learning or friendships are causing ongoing concerns/worry, please approach the classroom teacher to discuss this.
We are starting Friday 8am Pastoral Care Meetings to briefly share any relevant student well-being/friendship information with all staff. This then means when teachers are on duty at lunchtime they have a bit more information about students not in their class, syndicate or level to understand and deal appropriately with situations. If a pet or family bereavement has occurred, or a significant event / change in home life that has unsettled students, it is often helpful for teachers to have this information shared with them to keep a watchful pastoral-care eye on them.
