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PRINCIPAL’S REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

25 March 2015

NAG 6: ADMINISTRATION

Roll Statistics Report:

2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

Roll as at 17/2/15: 600 591 551 549 552

New Enrolments 21 8 7 13 14

Withdrawals 6 8 8 8 2

Total Roll as at 17/03/15 615 591 550 554 561

March 2 MOE Returns 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

Total Roll 608 586 552 546 551

Boys 323 334 316 309 308

Girls 285 252 236 237 243

Student Attendance: Overall, our attendance levels are high and greater than the

national data for schools indicates. There is little or no student truancy, but there is

a level of parent condoned absenteeism, and there are seasonal fluctuations which

are mainly health related, with some anecdotal evidence suggesting that a lack of

transport and warm clothing in winter can be a factor as can a lack of food

throughout the year for some families. Like most schools, there is a clear pattern of

higher absences on Mondays and Fridays. Recent examples of this include; Monday

11: 32 absent and 11 late. Friday 13: 20 absent and 10 late. These percentages of

absent children were approximately 5% and 3%. We did have 87 students away on

Monday 16 March – much higher than usual especially for this time of year, and a

number of parents reported that it was because of Cyclone Pam!

We have sound attendance monitoring systems, led by attendance officer Niru Hari

and a pastoral role taken by individual teachers, senior managers and community

liaison person Anne Boulton.

Equivalent Enrolments as at 19 March

Year Total Enrolments Total Roll


2004 46 498

2005 61 529

2006 63 516

2007 49 505

2008 68 554

2009 88 593

2010 53 596

2011 62 562

2012 79 554

2013 69 550

2014 76 591

2015

Compulsory Uniform: Overall the standard of uniform wearing by students is

satisfactory and there is good support from most families. Uniform checks by the

Principal find few students without the full uniform, although cleanliness, and lack

of more than one shirt for example, is a concern for some students. Those without

full uniform mainly relate to boys with incorrect shorts or students with non-

uniform tops over their shirts. Letters outlining uniform requirements are given to

children to take home in some instances. A large selection of second hand clothing

was available at the beginning of year, as many of our leaving Year 6’s donate

items when they leave. Several weeks of “Out they Go $4 sales” have seen most

second hand clothing sold. Newsletters continue to highlight “uniforms are us”

themes several times each term.

NAG 1: CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL CURRICULUM REPORT

Vision Statement and Visual Representation: This term has seen the continued

promotion of our Vision Statement and its visual representation. This has included

its explanation and use in newsletters. A version is presented in classroom and wall

displays, and the visual representation is part of signage around the school as well

as the vision statement panel prepared by Rooms 2 and 4 that is displayed on Room

4’s wall facing the swimming pool. An initiative this year is to have our Vision

Statement featured as a regular part of school assemblies.

“At Pukekohe Hill we are a community of lifelong learners committed to

achieving our best and making a difference”.

Heart symbol: Represents our virtues and

partnership with Maori.

Kohekohe leaves: Represents the skills for lifelong

learners and the kohekohe tree which is part of our

Pukekohe name.

Hill logo: Part of our identity and represents

striving to the top to do our best.


Sun and its Rays: Represents the many cultures of

our students.

Market Gardens: Represents Pukekohe Hill and how we can make a difference as

we move towards the future and recognise the past. It also reflects our connection

as an Enviro and Health promoting school.

ESOL Application: SENCO Anne Boulton (Special Needs Coordinator) has

completed identification, testing and funding applications for students who are

defined as English Speakers of Other Languages. A time consuming process

involving class teachers, support staff, and the Principal. A relatively small funding

component is provided by the MOE as an additional grant, which is paid into our

account on a 6 monthly basis. Several support staff work students who have English

as their second language, and Madhu Hari has a key role in helping these students

from her Learning Centre base which is set up as a visually inclusive learning area.

The May report will outline some statistics including numbers, ethnic backgrounds

and funding received data.

Swimming: Swimming has now finished for this term for most students. The

limitations of the small learner pool for a roll over 600 is very evident through the

class swimming timetables, and the need for only groups of children to be in the

pool at any one time. The work of caretaker Luke Hindt in maintaining the pool

throughout the day and the capacity of the twin filter unit system enables treatment

levels to be maintained despite the heavy loading.

This year, a number of teachers have had some professional development in

swimming from Counties Manukau’s Kay West, who also came to support some

classes at swimming time. Senior and Middle school students will also have a

series of lessons with tutors at the Rec Centre over the year which will take most of

the KiwiSports funding provided through the Operational Grant.

A squad of 12 senior swimmers represented

the school and had limited success at Group

Day with just 3 qualifying for Zone

championships. The overall school standard for

competitive swimming is not high, and

relatively few children are involved with local

swimming clubs or swim competitively at club

level.

Bible in School: Following on from the Board’s approval for Bible in School for

2015, classes have started for half an hour each Wednesday. This year, one Year 3

class does not have a Bible teacher. An initiative this year is for some senior classes

to meet together in the hall and be taken by a paid presenter and volunteer helper

through the Churches Education Commission. Their “Champions” programme has

begun with an anti-bullying focus and seems popular with our senior students.

Bible teachers include several staff members and parents.


Latest Virtue: The latest Virtue is “Co-operation”, which following on from the

previous Unity virtue, complements the Community Concept.

Mathletics: This online maths programme is popular in many schools. Over 80

senior students have paid the $32 required and this programme will be available for

students to use both at school and at home.

Polyfest Visit: Mrs Chamberlain arranged a visit for the Enrichment Class to last

week’s Polyfest competition which was a wonderful cultural experience for our

tamariki in Room 14, and gave motivation to their involvement in our kapa haka

group.

Lunch with the Principal: This initiative has links to our Pipps programme and

health promoting schools focus. Rather than students who are entered in the

Consequences books by duty teachers for inappropriate behaviour spending 3

lunchtimes with the Principal, “Lunch with the Principal” is a celebration of

academic achievement and progress and excellent attitudes to learning and our

virtues. Teachers will choose a student from their class for the Principal to invite to

lunch, the lunch itself will be prepared and served by Mrs Smart and her Health

Promoting students and a certificate will also be presented to each student. Lunch

with the Principal this term is set for 27 March.

Technology Challenge: Once a term, we have a whole school Technology

Challenge. This year, Matt Craig is leading these challenges. A copy of the

challenge sheet sent out to teachers is included in the appendices.

Gifted and Talented: A data base is used for the selection of pupils to attend

Franklin Network and internal Gifted and Talented courses as well as teacher

recommendations. Malcolm Laurence leads CWSA in the school. As part of G and

T opportunities, Malcolm enters students for the NSW University Testing Centre’s

test competitions. This year, children will be entered in Spelling, English, Maths

and Computing.

Franklin Schools Multi Cultural Festival: On Sunday 29 March, teams will

represent Hill in the sports Touch Rugby tournament section, and our kapa haka

group has been entered in the cultural section and will perform a quite complicated

chant which describes the history of Pukekohe Hill School. Although partly a

fundraiser for Puni School, this event is now linked to Te Huarahi goals especially

around celebrating success.

Ambassadors: Our senior Ambassadors have now

been chosen and introduced to the school. The

ambassadors are mentored by Mr Laurence, wear a

badge provided by the PTA and have a number of

leadership roles in the school.


GetWise: Most classes will be involved in the ASB GetWise programme which is a

financial literacy programme aimed at primary age children and delivered through

classroom lessons delivered by outside presenters.

Classroom Highlights: Our Classroom Highlights reports this month come to us

from Room 11 Reception Class teacher Nicky Poirier, Jill Walters and Liezel

Cronje in Room 3 and Cheryl de Vries in Room 26. Nicky has invited us to view a

presentation in Rm 11 and Jill and Liezel have invited us to visit them in Rm 3.

Room 26 Highlights

Chosen Valley Camp

Welcome to Room Twenty Six class highlights. We started the year with Chosen

Valley Camp. The children were very anxious and excited to go. They overcame

their anxiety of being away from their families, and immersed themselves in all

activities enthusiastically. Some activities were a challenge, and with the look of

determination and perseverance they pushed themselves and overcame their fears.

Chosen Valley Camp ‘SPLASH’ went the water when, yet another person

fell into the murky, muddy, brownish water. I

thought “I do not want to fall in there!” It was built

to unlock your sense of adventure (that’s the

confidence course by the way!).

We were walking to the confidence course when we

saw it. Some people from our group tried it, but

others no. I tried red and completed it. Then I tried

yellow. I got really far but I fell off at the part when you have to climb a rope. It

was AWESOME!!! I thought it needed a star rating.

When it was time to leave I just couldn’t say bye. It was one of the best camps I’ve

ever been on. It was a privilege to go. When I got home with Mum, I was glad to be

home. When I got into bed at the end of the day, I remembered all of the things I

did at camp and how much fun I’d had.

By Cameron Richards

I couldn’t wait to get to camp everyone thought that it would be a lifelong memory.

We had arrived at the camp grounds it was totally different to what I had in mind.

We had to sort out our cabins and what position we would be in, that was a hard

job. Then we got into our activity groups and find out what activity we were doing.

My first activity was biking we went with the supervisor and went to the shed and

got all the equipment out. Rhys, Tahi and I went down a steep bumpy hill it was

awesome fun. After that we went to orienteering. We got into groups of four and

then chose one of the four maps. Then we had to learn

what all the symbols mean so that we could find our

way around the gigantic area. It was amazing fun all

though it was tiring. After my group had finished 2


maps half my group chose to stop so Mervil and I carried on. Then I met up with

my cabin group and tidied up our messy cabin. So we could have free time. I went

and did balance island. It was very fun. Then I went swimming with Rhys and Tahi.

We had the best time. I was proud of all the things I had achieved and made myself

do. I can’t wait until the challenges of next year’s camp. I was so tired when I got

home from camp I jumped in my bed.

By Joel Mowbray

Super Heroes

At the beginning of the year goal setting and working out the steps to be successful

were set, and they have the confidence to be able to peer assess and give positive

feedback with each other effectively.

The children have been able to identify areas that they need to work on to help their

learning. The classroom is rich with learning language. Cross grouping for math has

been started and this has proven to be successful as all classes are grouped to the

same ability and target the needs specifically for those groups.

We look forward to a very busy and exciting year.

Cheryl de Vries and Room 26.

NAG 2: DOCUMENTATION AND SELF REVIEW

International Student Code of Practice: The school has been a signatory to the

Code of Practice for International students for over 10 years. In this time there have

been a considerable number of changes to the Code which have all added to the

paper work and annual review requirements. The responsibility for administering

the Code has also moved from the MOE to NZQA although ERO still include an

audit of Code documentation as part of their school reviews.

Over these 10 years we have only had one international student who stayed with us

for several years and 4-5 who have paid short term fees until their parents either

obtained work and student visas or left the country when these were declined.

I have contacted several local schools who were both Code signatories – Patumahoe

and Valley – and they have both relinquished their Code status.

The Leadership Team have discussed our position as a Code signatory and I now

recommend that

1. The Board agree to withdraw from the Code of Practice for International

Students

2. Advise NZQA of this decision.

3. Archive the related policy statements and procedures relating to the Code.

Reporting to the Board: A term based Assessment Overview is used as a guide for

teachers on assessment requirements and timeframes. It also includes a “Reporting

to the BOT” section as a reference for Wendy and Malcolm as they prepare student

achievement data to present to the Board. Currently, Malcolm and Wendy are

reviewing this document. Senior students are completing PAT, spelling, e-AsTTle

reading and maths, Year 3-4’s take STAR tests and it’s intended this data will be

presented at our May meeting.


Charter and Strategic Plan: Our planning has now been sent to the MOE. To date

no comment has been received.

NAG 3: PERSONNEL

Syndicate Meetings: Usually held weekly after school, depending on professional

development and other commitments. There is also frequent e.mail contact

regarding syndicate matters throughout each week, and sometimes syndicates have

e.mail meetings when other events prevent after school meetings. Syndicate

meetings are important in terms of planning, syndicate and school organisation.

Action Minutes are prepared from each meeting and relevant issues raised are

considered at Leadership Team meetings. The minutes of a recent Junior Syndicate

meeting led by Shirley Smart are included in the appendices.

Performance Management Systems: The classroom teacher performance

management process has begun with interviews, goal setting and related appraisal

documentation. Wendy Bates and Malcolm Laurence effectively lead this area of

PMS. Later in the year, the Senco will undertake a self appraisal and appraisal

process with Support staff who work with students. Exec Officer Vicky Keary will

carry out a similar process with other Support staff as part of their performance

management process. The Principal undertakes an appraisal process with our

Assistant Principals and the Executive Officer. The Principal’s appraiser is an

external consultant Paul Mawhinney.

Professional Development: As previously reported, the major focus for whole

school development is the Assessment and Leadership contract being led by

Barbara Anne Alexander. Although this has a focus on writing including the use of

the writing easTTle assessment tool, it has a much wider impact in terms of

teachers clarity with students and the successful use of learning intentions and

success criteria as part of the learning process.

Some recent opportunities this term for personal professional development and

learning, other than this development, are noted below:

Performance Management interview and observation process begins for

classroom teachers.

Principal attends Franklin Principals Association and APPA general meetings

and AGM

Principal attends meetings of the APPA Council as the representative for the

Franklin Principal’s Association

Meetings of Te Huarahi including general hui, Te Huarahi Trust Board and

ECE and Raising Achievement subcommittees

Principal meets with appraisal consultant re 2015 goal setting

Project Energiser leader Megan meets with Malcolm

Swimming workshop

Pip and Wendy at EFS cluster meetings


ICT Chill out sessions led by Rick de Kock and Julie Brook for staff

Autism workshop attended by 7 teachers and support staff

Wendy and Malcolm attend Maths meeting in Waiuku

Three teachers attend AFL workshop

Lead teachers meet with Wendy and Malcolm re their roles

Lead Teachers meet with Barbara Anne Alexander

Teachers take part in teaching as inquiry conversations with Lead teachers

Anne Boulton leads ESOL cluster group meeting hosted at Hill

NAG 4: FINANCE AND PROPERTY

Annual Accounts for 2014: A set of draft accounts are expected shortly from Ed

Tech and will then be looked at by the Finance Committee and presented to the

Board so that the Board can formally receive these accounts and that they are then

sent to our auditors before 31 March.

PTA Donations 2014 and Wishlist 2015: Over 2014, through its fundraising

activities, the PTA donated over $23 000 to the school ($11400 in 2013) and ended

the year with funds on hand of $17 695 ($32 900 in 2013).

The PTA has a healthy cash balance, and at its first meeting for 2015 it was agreed

that preparation of a “wishlist” from staff and the community for discussion be

organised to give a focus for future fundraising. The current wishlist is included in

the appendices. Trustees are very welcome to suggest ideas to present to the PTA.

(See also Community Partnership item)

New Furniture and Donation to Butterfly Trust: With the damage to Vanuatu by

Cyclone Pam, there is probably a need for new schools more than our desks and

chairs! Kiwanis have now picked up our surplus furniture and will store it in a

container that will be shipped out later this year.

Room 21 has also now received a complete upgrade of their class furniture which

looks very smart.

Completion of Leaky Building Project: This project has begun well, with stage

one being completed inside the planned time and Rooms 20, 21 and 22 are now

back in their rooms. Rooms 23 and 24 have moved to Rooms 29 and 27. The

second stage is to work on Rooms 23-24 which have been completed enclosed so

that the roof can be removed and work has begun on removing wall cladding. The

most recent site meeting minutes are included in the appendices.

Senior Adventure Playground: The senior adventure playground has just been

installed. We received over $46 500 through insurance, a Fuji Xerox donation of

$15 000 and a small donation from the PTA and the family of one of the arsonists.


Costs to date are likely to be approximately $58 000. Earlier last year, the Board

approved a “ballpark” figure of up to $68 000, with any shortfall from monies

received to come from our reserves.

An opening is being planned for Friday 27 March at 1.30pm and Trustees are very

welcome to attend.

Property Modification Project: An extensive project is underway at the planning

stage to cater for a student with physical disability. This is likely to include

additional ramps, entrance way changes, pathing and toilet modification. David

Bowes has been asked by the MOE’s consultants to project manage this

development. Several on-site meetings have been held, an architect is to be

appointed to prepare drawings, and it’s hoped the project will fall under $100 000.

This is an MOE project and not part of our 5YA.

Health and Safety Committee: The H and S Committee met on 13 March and has

both Board and staff representation. The Committee has responsibility for health

and safety issues and related policies, updates a hazard list each term, provides H

and S spots in Cross Connections, and has close links to the Property Committee.

Hazard Identification Lists: The Health and Safety Committee update the current

Hazard Register and review progress made as part of their meeting. Staff feedback

is also invited, and a copy with room for additional entries notified to staff and

displayed in the staffroom.

Emergency Evacuation: The first emergency evacuation practice for 2015 was

held on 17 March. It was decided to have a standard fire drill and evacuation.

Details of evacuations are sent by the Principal to NZ Fire Service. Other

emergency procedures held throughout the year include: Earthquake and Intruder

alert/Lockdown

Community Picnic: The community picnic was held for the fifth year, and is

aimed at providing a family friendly and informal opportunity for families to meet

together. There were a variety of stalls, external groups provided food, the PTA

provided a sausage sizzle, lollies, chips and drinks. A change was to hold the picnic

on the main field and this seemed to work well. The turnout was high with an

estimated 700 plus attending, there was a very positive and relaxed atmosphere, and

good feedback from both staff and families.

NAG 5 HEALTH AND SAFETY

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP


Transition to School Meeting: Wendy Bates, Nicky Poirier and Anne Boulton

held a successful meeting recently with 9 ECE groups attending. A copy of the

invite in the appendices outlines the aim of this meeting which also meets out Te

Huarahi goal around both community engagement and ECE participation.

PTA for 2015: The PTA’s AGM was attended by about 12 people, including 5

staff. The PTA overall is in good heart, although numbers at the AGM were

disappointing. The partnership between Board and PTA has always been strong at

Hill School. Mandy Seabrook continues as President, Donna Morgan as Treasurer

and Jo Mould as Secretary.

I recommend that the Board congratulate the office holders for 2015, and thank the

PTA for their excellent fundraising results and overall support during 2014.