Address: 282 Victoria Avenue, Remuera, Auckland | Telephone: (09) 520 0602
E-mail: [email protected] | web: www.victoriaave.com
Dear Parents,
Tomorrow’s Schools
A long column today about a document that has huge ramifications for the future of schooling in New Zealand
Back in 1989, our current schooling system, called Tomorrow’s Schools, was introduced. Boards of Trustees were established and Education Boards (a centralised agency) were abolished and the Ministry of Education was established.
A taskforce has been reviewing our current system and has been considering alternatives. The group has produced a report ‘Our Schooling Futures: Stronger Together’. They established eight key issues of our current model and have come up with a number of recommendations for each of these issues. My understanding is that these are only recommendations and at the end of the consultation process, it is likely that some of these recommendations won’t be enacted and others may change.
Given the outcomes from this review will have a very significant impact on schools it is vital that parents have a say. You can attend a public meeting, email your submission and complete the survey.
Here is a link to the recommendations for each of the eight key aspects Our Schooling Futures: Stronger Together Summary of Recommendations
I have also analysed each of the eight key aspects and commented as to how the recommendations could affect VAS. It is not all bad, there are potential positive outcomes in a number of the key issues. The relevant key aspects which affect VAS are under Competition and Choice, with some of the recommendations under Governance, also affecting VAS.
Key Issue | Recommendations | How This May Affect VAS |
Competition and Choice | · Education has a planned network for state and state integrated schools.
Details: · All schools would be allocated a notional catchment area and maximum roll number. These would be adjusted regularly to account for changing demographics. · Following the review of current enrolment schemes the number of out of zone enrolments would be capped. Out of zone students would be included in the staffing and operational funding formulae at a lower rate than in-zone students. · There would be an upper limit on the donations state schools can ask of parents. · Schools with international students would have to demonstrate to the Education Hub that they can cater for these students staffing, operational and building needs independently of government funding. |
ROLL NUMBERS
· The board would have no control over the school zone or the numbers of students. Education Hub would set the zone and maximum numbers. · The Education Hub could change the school zone and maximum numbers – following consultation but ultimately with the final decision. What is the possible impact on families who were in zone with their eldest child but now out of zone with their youngest child? · Resourcing and property funding would be driven by these maximum roll numbers. · Out of zone students attract less staffing and operational funding. Would schools be immediately affected or would this apply to out of zone students enrolled as from the formation of the Education Hub? · Upper limit on donations. This would impact significantly on the board’s ability to fund specialist teachers or additional teachers to support larger cohorts. |
Key Issue | Recommendations
|
How This May Affect VAS |
Governance | That local Education Hubs are established.
· To reorient the roles of boards and school principals so they are able to focus on their core responsibilities. · To ensure schools are supported by, and contribute to, their local network, through the formation of local Education Hubs that assume local governance responsibilities. · To ensure that the Education Hubs supporting schools have the knowledge, flexibility and resources to be able to respond to the needs of individuals schools. · To ensure that the key decisions in the system are made at the appropriate level. |
CORE ROLES OF A BOARD
· School strategic and annual plan; student success and wellbeing; localised curriculum and assessment · Staffing and operational funding systems will continue without change. PROPERTY · Education Hubs would take over 5YA and major property developments. Schools may request a delegation to control responsibility for some or all of these funds. ENROLMENT ZONES · The Education Hub would review existing enrolment schemes for fairness. It would establish new enrolment zones if necessary and adjust enrolment zones as required in consultation with schools and communities. The Education Hubs would make the final decisions. PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS · Education Hub would take over responsibility for appointing a school principal. After consultation with board and community the Education Hub would advertise the position. An appointment panel with up to 50% representation for the school’s board would carry out shortlisting, interviewing and reference checks. A Leadership Advisor employed by the Education Hub would oversee the employment process. The board would approve the appointment. · Principals would be appointed to a particular school on a 5 year contract. The leadership advisor would be responsible for ensuring timely and appropriate action is taken if there are issues with a principal’s performance. The understanding is that principal’s contracts could roll over. TEACHERS · Employed by the Education Hub but principal would appoint and manage their staff. · Teachers could be seconded to other schools so their expertise can be shared. Would teachers have any choice as to whether they were seconded to another school? Would the board be able to veto a secondment? OTHER · Education Hub rather than school boards would be responsible for all processes after a suspension has been initiated by a school principal. |
Here is a link to a useful document giving answers to FAQs Our Schooling Futures: Stronger Together FAQs
To make a submission, email [email protected] by 7 April.
Here is the link to the survey which is available in English, Maori, Chinese and Samoan.
Our Schooling Futures – Survey – Closes 31 March 2019
Please take the time to be involved in the consultation around Our Schooling Futures: Stronger Together.
Union Meetings
Kind Regards
Janice Adamson
Click Here to view our BLOG PAGE.
DRAMA/SPEECH LESSONS: Click here for information
MUSIC LESSONS: Click here for information on Musiqhub music lessons
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:
FOR TERM 1 2019
Click here for details on these activities.
Also:
Click here for After School and Holiday Community Based Programmes and Activities for 2018
What’s Ahead?
Please click here to view our online calendar
IMPORTANT DATES AND TIMES
School Times
School starts: 8.50am
Interval: 10.30-10.50am
Lunch: 12.30-1.25pm
School finishes: 3.00pm
Term Dates for 2019
Term 1: Monday 4 February to Friday 12 April 2019
~ Waitangi Day Wednesday 6 February ’19
~ Good Friday 19 April
~ Easter Monday 22 April
~ Easter Tuesday 23 April
Term 2: Monday 29 April to Friday 5 July 2019
~ Queen’s Birthday Monday 3 June ’19
Term 3: Monday 22 July to Friday 27 Sept 2019
Term 4: Monday 14 October to Wednesday 18 December 2019
~ Labour Day Mon 28 October ’19
Stationery Sales
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 8.30-8.45am
Uniform Shop
– half way up dragon drive in the old dental clinic
OPEN FRIDAYS only: 8.15-8.45am
Orders and payments for uniform can be made online on our website ~ Click here
Lunch Orders
1. ‘Daily Lunch and Catering’ ordered through ezlunch: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays – ONLINE ORDERS ONLY
Click here for ezlunch and Subway menus.
Join ezlunch today and Place an order Sushi is available through Daily Lunch and Catering
2. Subway: ordered through ezLUNCH: – ONLINE ORDERS ONLY
Click here for ezlunch and Subway menus.
Join ezlunch today and Place an order
School Dental Service
8b Ngaio St Orakei Ph 520 0603.
The dental team will be posting letters to all new entrants to our school as required.
Remember to ‘like’ Victoria Avenue School on Facebook.
NIT NIGHT TONIGHT!!
PLEASE, PLEASE CHECK FOR NITS – a number of classes have reported nits and if your infected child is not treated then many others will be!
Here is a link from NZ Health for info and treatment.
http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/head-lice
To download the app for free on iPhone or Android click this link. http://is.gd/3ffmjc
- Room 1 : Jaxon Molloy
- Room 1 : Annabelle Judd
- Room 2 : Kai Wang
- Room 2 : Christina Handley
- Room 3 : Nathan Palli
- Room 3 : Claire Shen
- Room 4 : Max Crosby
- Room 4 : Sophia Panaho
- Room 5 : India Devereux-Evison
- Room 5 : Samantha Webber
- Room 6 : Zac Hood
- Room 6 : Chloe Song
- Room 7 : Samantha Tidey
- Room 8 : Spencer Thom
- Room 9 : Henry Jacka
- Room 10 : Cecilia Wang
- Room 11 : Charlotte Schofield
- Room 12 : Teo Serlachius-Williams
- Room 13 : Sienna Bravo-Morello
- Room 14 : Hugo Thorman
- Room 15 : Guang Nian Li
- Room 15 : Charlotte Shields
- Room 16 : Fin Wilson
- Room 17 : Tyler Lushkott
- Room 18 : James Cunningham
- Room 19 : Greer Monk
- Room 20 : James Carey
- Room 21 : Atticus Mills
Swimming Sports Results
Year Six Boys Relay
Ist – Koromiko
2nd – Pohutukawa
3rd – Karaka
Year Six Girls Relay
Ist – Koromiko
2nd – Pohutukawa
3rd – Karaka
Year FIve Boys Relay
Ist – Pohutukawa
2nd – Karaka
3rd – Kowhai
Year Five Girls Relay
Ist – Karaka
2nd – Kowhai
3rd – Koromiko
Top Schools Fun Day
On Sunday 10th March, 30 students represented Victoria Avenue School at Top Schools, which was held at Churchill Park School. We had three teams which competed in seven different events; slippery slide, wobbly wheels, ski run, newspaper run, minefield, wet sponge fun, and a gumboot throw. All three teams did exceptionally well and we even had one team come first!
2019 Directory – opportunity for advertising

Support one of our parents doing a charity swim for the Auckland Helicopter Rescue Trust
On 18 March, Claire Morgan, Mother of Tyler Lushkott (year 4) is going to do a charity solo swim from Waiheke Island to Auckland (Parnell Baths), for the Auckland Helicopter Rescue Trust… 20km. Claire has got under 2 weeks to raise as much money as possible for her cause and asked if we could share with the community the link to her fundraising page (as well as some interesting information about the Helicopter Rescue Service).
https://2019chopperswimchallenge.everydayhero.com/nz/claire-morgan
After school nanny available
Zoe Kerr is a year 13 student from Baradene College who is available for after school care / nannying. She has had part-time experience working at an after school care, and can be contacted on 027 6875004 or [email protected]