#286

Scroll down this page

to see all our
LATEST NEWS  

Our latest news:

...and get more detail 

on the stories below
by clicking through them...

• main pagemain page
• Main Page 16/07/2020Main Page 16/07/2020
• Main Page 02/07/2020Main Page 02/07/2020
• Main page Main page

Nau mai ki tenei wiki Kōrero.  

Fakaalofa lahi atu, 

A great result on Saturday for early childhood education with the results of the General Election, we look forward to working with the new Government over the coming years - exciting times ahead! 

           Jane

Induction and Mentoring

We have sent an email to all PCT’s and Mentors today with an update about support for your Induction and Mentoring programme over Term 4 2020.

Please contact Lynette, lynette.wray@wmkindergartens.org.nz or your Senior Teacher if you don’t receive the email or have any questions😊.

Senior Teacher Update

Senior Teachers have been engaged in a variety of work that is the result of our own reviews and reflections, feedback we have had from teachers after Covid-19 lockdowns and from our own internal evaluations.

The priorities for our work are interrelated so we are using this term and some of term one to progress them all together. Thank you so much for all of the contributions you have made through feedback so far. We will be updating you regularly in Kōrero about how things are going and we welcome your input at any time. We are currently working through the:

• Te Manawa Review
• Social Competence review, in light of He Mapuna te Tamaiti and learning support mahi
• Professional Growth Cycle (previously appraisal) design process with teachers
• Annual Review changes so that it is led by the Standards for the Teaching Profession.

As we continue to work on these priorities, we have made the following decisions to acknowledge the effects of Covid-19 on teams:  

• We will not undertake Annual Reviews at the end of this year nor the beginning of next year so that we can introduce a new Annual Review over the year with everyone.
• Instead, Senior Teachers will support teams in term one to evaluate your progress on Strategic Teaching and Learning Plans so far
• The STLP and Internal Evaluations continue as improvement processes for teams and you will plan for further progress or discuss next steps with your Senior Teachers.

Health and Safety Documents

Just a reminder that all relevant health and safety documents can be found in the “Key Documents” section on the home page of GOSH.

Any questions please contact Lorraine.Coulston@wmkindergartens.org.nz

Evacuation Drills

Just a reminder that we use GOSH to report on evacuation drills.  The drills we report using the Evacuation Drill form on GOSH are :

Earthquake evacuation drill (Monthly)

Lockdown drill (Termly)

Fire Evacuation Drill (Monthly)

Notifiable Fire evacuation drill (6 monthly)

When you are reporting on your drills using the Evacuation Drill form on GOSH, please ensure that you tick the box that indicates what type of drill it is (blue arrow below) and if the drill is the notifiable 6 monthly fire drill, please tick “Yes” in the “Is this a notifiable evacuation drill” (green arrow below). By selecting “Yes” the Fire Service will automatically be sent a copy of the report.

6 Monthly Fire Evacuation Drill

Please remember that when you are undertaking the 6 monthly fire evacuation drill The Fire Service Communication Centre must be called 10 minutes before the drill, on phone 04 801 0812.  The purpose of this is to ensure neighbours and the Fire Service do not respond unnecessarily. If the Fire Communications Centre does not answer the phone, teachers will delay the drill. The 6 monthly drill is to  provide practice for what would happen in an actual emergency. For example, if a fire alarm is activated in a real fire, then this must be activated, if the group would leave the grounds to get to their place of safety, then this must be practiced. An actual call to 111 emergency services must also be part of the 6 monthly drill.

You are able to access records of your previous drills on GOSH by logging into  “My Kindergarten” and selecting “Evacuation Records”

Please don’t hesitate to contact Lorraine.Coulston@wmkindergartens.org.nz

Kindergarten Daily Hazard Checklist

Please note that we have updated the Kindergarten Daily Hazard Checklist. We have added some new potential  hazards for teams to be aware of when you are undertaking your visual inspection at the beginning of each day.

The potential hazards we have added are:

The updated Kindergarten Hazard Checklist is available in the documents section on GOSH

If you have any questions, plesae contact Lorraine.Coulston@wmkindergarten.org.nz

New Computers

Just an update for any kindergartens who have recently ordered a new computer. The process is a bit delayed at the moment due to some background work we have been doing to ensure our computers are well protected from increased cyber attacks. 

To ensure the most appropriate protection we need to ensure that all new computers operate on Windows 10 and we have changed the way you will log into new computers.  This will require you to use your @wmkindergartens.org.nz email address and have a password also.  This is just a heads up and as computers are ready for distribution we will provide specific information to guide you through the changes.

Setting our computers up this way will mean that they are always up to date and we can remotely ensure that they have current applications and updates.   Over the next few months we will work with you to phase out some of the older computers you may currently have, we will be in touch with you directly if this affects your kindergarten.  

If you have ordered a new laptop and haven’t received it yet – please bear with us, we’re rolling them out as fast as we can!  Please feel free to contact Jane Braun if you have any queries jane.braun@wmkindergartens.org.nz

Key Boxes and Alarm Codes

Just some reminders regarding the kindergarten key boxes:

• Please ensure that a copy of all keys required for the kindergarten are stored in the key box. This includes gate keys, office keys and keys to the building. Please ensure that the alarm code is also in the key box. This is important so we can access kindergartens after hours if required and also for any contractors requiring access

• If you change the key box code or alarm code, please ensure that you let Lupeni.Aitogi@wmkindergartens.org.nz know, again this is important so we can access kindergartens after hours if required and also for any contractors requiring access

• Please do not give out the key box code to anyone who is not a staff member or is employed/contracted by the association.

If you have any questions please contact Lupeni.Aitogi@wmkindergartens.org.nz

StaffSync For Relievers' Pay

We are moving to using StaffSync to generate the pay for our Short-term Relievers. (This has been happening in Whanganui and Central Plateau for a while and we will now be using the process across the region.)

We need to make sure the hours in StaffSync are correct.

Head Teachers/Teachers - Please make sure you tell the Reliever Coordinator if you book a reliever in advance yourself, or if the hours you asked for a reliever change.  But please do book your relievers through the Coordinators as much as possible as this makes sure our Itinerants get work and everyone gets paid what they should.

Short Term Relievers - Keep doing what you're doing for now, e.g timesheets, staff hour count, but also please make sure you let the Reliever Coordinators know if you accept an advance booking from a kindergarten, so they can book through StaffSync.

Part-time teachers - Keep doing what you're doing for now, if you work, to tell us your extra hours. You're not loaded as relievers in StaffSync so we can't use it to pay you at the moment. We'll let you know if this changes.

Thanks everyone. If you have any questions you can email karen.skett@wmkindergartens.org.nz or phone 021 857826.

Giveaway Day

Our next giveaway day is on Friday 30 October, 6.00pm to 8.00pm at Nuanua Kindergarten. 

It is the last one for the year.  We would be grateful for donations of good quality linen, kitchen ware, bedding, toys, clothing, books etc.

You can drop off any items to the Association Office in Porirua on Thursday 29 October.

Archiving Children On Storypark

Whānau Manaaki pays for each child that is on your Kindergarten’s Storypark account every month, so it is important to archive children’s accounts once they are no longer attending your kindergarten. We suggest that you do this at the end of each month.

This is a task that only Head Teachers can do (or teachers at your kindergarten who are designated as your Storypark Admins. Your Administrator could also do this if they have been designated as an ‘Admin’ on your Storypark Teachers page).

When a child leaves your kindergarten, you need to archive them from your account. The children’s stories won't be deleted, you simply won’t have access to them anymore. After they’ve been archived from your account, parents and family members will still be able to access those children’s profiles and stories.
Keeping

Keeping a copy of children’s stories and notes for evidence
Links to children’s stories or notes in your Storypark plans won’t be active once the child is archived (they’ll show as greyed out), so it is important to duplicate or download any information that you or another teacher, might want to keep as evidence – eg for your Internal Evaluation, STLP or teacher’s appraisal. You have to do this before you archive the child’s account. (if you want to download the child’s whole profile, click here to view in-depth instructions. Click here if you want to know how to duplicate individual stories.) You can also save individual stories or specific child notes as a PDF and save them to your computer or upload to a Storypark Plan.

Election Result – What Does It Mean For Early Childhood Education? 

With the decisive election result last Saturday night, we have a clearer idea of what to expect in the early childhood education space in the next three years.

As we wait to hear about the final results, the details of any arrangement with the Green Party, and the allocation of responsibilities, we can look forward to the implementation of the strategic plan, He Taonga  te Tamaiti – Every Child A Taonga, which was released late last year.

The first part of this plan has already been announced with the agreement to pay for 100 per cent qualified teachers from January next year. This is a significant milestone for our sector and will result, eventually, in improved quality for all children.

It is notable, and disappointing, that National planned to scrap this funding had they become the government.

Other parts of the strategic plan, including improved ratios, has been promised as budgets allow.

A big part of Labour’s education policy platform for the election was the introduction of more equitable pay for early childhood teachers, with $600 million promised for this.

Labour has also promised to support the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori so that it is valued as a key part of national identity, and to build the cultural competency of the education workforce to meet the needs of Māori and Pacific learners. 

Labour’s policy also included introducing a managed network approach for early learning services, so that new services don’t set up when they are not needed. 

With a raft of new MPs around the country, it’s a good idea to form a relationship with your local MP or MPs.  There’ll be more information about who to contact and what MPs need to know from us next week.

Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens will be contacting the relevant minister/s in the new government, and seeking meetings through our collective of associations, Kindergartens Aotearoa. 

Welcome Presley

If you are visiting the Association Office in Porirua you will see a new face at the reception desk, and if you are ringing you will hear a new voice!  Presley joined the team last week and we are so excited to welcome her to our extended kindergarten whānau.  We know you will make her feel very welcome.

Whanganui Kindergartens Feature In Heritage Display 

Our Whanganui kindergartens are taking part in Whanganui’s October heritage month with a display of photographs showing the early days of Whanganui’s kindergartens.

The photos are in Whānau Manaaki’s Whanganui office in the main street, Victoria Street, and include information about kindergartens in the Whanganui area.

Children from Gonville Kindergarten featured in the weekly community newspaper, looking at the photos.

We will be making use of the prominent window space in future, for example joining in with Artists Open Studios in March. 

Before then, we would like to feature artwork from our kindergartens, so people can stop and admire the window, including and especially, children.

Any questions/ideas/feedback - contact Kaz on karen.craig@wmkindergartens.org.nz

Cancer Diagnosed Thanks To Early Childhood Teacher

For teachers, it can be difficult to raise an issue about a child’s health with a parent, however a recent RNZ story shows how important it can be.

A Bay of Plenty parent says the teacher may have saved her son’s life after she noticed his change in skin colour.

The boy is now in remission, and his mother, Rata Campbell, says her story serves as a reminder of how important caring and knowledgeable early childhhod teachers are.

Here’s a link to the full story.

Appointments And Resignations

Congratulations to the following on their recent appointments:

We wish all the best to the following who have resigned:

Previous Kōrero Editions

If you are wanting to access previous editions of the Kōrero you can find them at 

www.wmkindergartens.org.nz/archive

or you can click here.

It is a good idea to save this link as an icon on your desktop.

Thank you for taking the time to read Kōrero. 

Don't forget to check out some of the stories listed down the side menu. Just click between the stories of use the Kōrero bar to come back to this page.