Download Friday 9th December Newsletter
Thank you to everyone who attended the kapa haka performances this morning. Special guests in the audience were the kids from Waimahaka School – all nine (or so) of them – who had come to see their first kapa haka performance. We may well see them come back and take part in a few of our Friday sessions next year.
Our big group Kotahitanga (when we say “big”, we mean 170+) led-off a programme that included their first public performances of poi and haka. Then Tuinga Tahi demonstrated their polished routine from Putangitangi earlier this term. We are very proud of both groups.
The kids love performing for you – it really boosts them. Their self-esteem rises; they feel your support; and your own kids feel and see the pride that you have in them: it’s a win-win all-round. Clearly, the future for both groups looks strong.
Thank you whanau…
The whanau runanga met on Wednesday night and Raiha led the hui through a process focussed on what we do well; what we could do better; and ideas for future development. The feedback provided is valued and will be used in our school’s plans for the future; thanks for giving your time at a time of year when there’s lots happening.
First and foremost, we want Waverley Park to continue to reflect what our community wants and what our kids need. In the main, that will mean we keep working to improve and develop all the good stuff we do; and to do better with the stuff we need to do better.
Meanwhile…
When the last government came to power, National Standards were passed through parliament under urgency in late December – bypassing even the pretence of consultation or any form of community input – at a time when schools had just closed for the summer break. Expect more of the same this time too. The New Zealand Principals Federation sent a flyer to members this week. It included the following advice and guidance:
“If you look back in history, New Zealand is listed as the first country to initiate Charter Schools, before the US. New Zealand’s 1980’s education policy reforms, ‘Tomorrow’s Schools’ dismantled the regional education boards to devolve power to local communities by establishing self-managing schools governed by their own boards of trustees. Each school has its own charter which is submitted to the Ministry annually.
Our public schools are charter schools. So why would we want some other model which has failed overseas?
It’s not about achievement. It’s really about the funding of our public education system. The Charter Schools under discussion now are to be funded partly by the government and partly by the private sector. They would be based on a business competitive model. They would be exempt from the rules and regulations that apply to our current public schools and would have targets of accountability to meet and be judged by. The possibility of performance pay for successfully meeting the targets is a common feature of such Charter schools in the US and in the UK (where they are commonly called ‘academy schools’).
2009 reports of US charter schools show that only 17% of children performed better than their public school counterparts with 46% performing the same and 37% performing worse.
The best example of Charter Schools is what we have now in NZ: publicly funded self-managed schools governed by local boards of trustees. This system should be protected.
In NZ there are some excellent and successful intervention programmes aimed at low decile schools with high proportions of Maori and Pasifika. Government should get behind these programmes which are showing they lift children’s achievement.
A foundation group to develop Charter Schools in NZ will be established. This group does not include practitioners, which is like establishing a new medical clinic without asking the doctors. Here we have another example of the sector views being ignored and professionals being dealt to by non-educators.
It is suggested that Charter Schools be trialled in South Auckland, where it is believed students are failing and are of low socio-economic status and Christchurch, since some of the schools there have been displaced by the earthquake. This is the last thing Christchurch needs after having such a traumatic year.
Targeting Charter Schools for poor areas will result in the winner and loser schools in the same community.
Charter Schools will undermine the world-class public education system we have now because so called ‘failing’ public schools will be closed and replaced with public/private funded Charter Schools. This will leave parents no choice but to send their children to the Charter School.
There will no longer be equal access to quality publicly funded education.
The privatisation model of Charter Schools will create competition in the sector and a break down in the collaborative culture that has made New Zealand’s education system one of the best in the world.”
Class presentations timetable…
Where to find your child next Wednesday evening:
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TIME
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ROOM/S
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VENUE
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3.00 – 3.30
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9
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Covered way
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5.30 – 6.00
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4
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Rm 4
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5.30 – 6.15
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5 & 6
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Rms 5 & 6
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5.30 – 6.30
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9
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Covered way
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6.00 – 7.00
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3 & 11
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Rms 3 & 11
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7.00 – 8.00
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1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10
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Hall
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Monday, February 13, 2012 at 8:31PM 
