Another busy week - catch up with our news here
7 May, 2019
Dear Parents/Guardians,
This note is to advise you that I intend holding a parental information and input meeting on Thursday 16 May, 6:30 in the Library to consider our schoolwide response to Fire alarm activations – and our emergency responses.
This is part of a review that I am undertaking, in light of the events that arose in the last week of last term. Your input is welcome (and we are also doing a similar review internally with our staff too).
I expect to be through by 8:00pm. If you are unable to attend the meeting and have thoughts or concerns please feel free to contact me directly.
I attach our current emergency protocols – Fire, Earthquake, Lock down, Tsunami.
Kind regards,
John Wright
Principal
Are you interested in becoming a Trustee on the Mercury Bay Area School Board of Trustees?
School boards are responsible for the school | kura’s performance and ensuring that all legal requirements are met.
Every state and state-integrated school | kura in New Zealand has a board of trustees. The board of trustees is a crown entity – that is, an organisation that is part of the New Zealand public sector.
The board
- is accountable for student achievement
- sets the vision for the school | kura
- ensures the school | kura complies with legal and policy requirements
First and foremost a board is accountable for student progress and achievement to its parents, community and the Crown. The board also has the overall responsibility and accountability for the school | kura.
The legal responsibilities of boards of trustees are determined by the Education Act of 1989. Schedule 6 of the Act outlines the functions and powers of boards:
- A board is the governing body of its school.
- A board is responsible for the governance of the school, including setting the policies.
A board’s primary objective in governing the school is to ensure that every student at the school is able to attain his or her highest possible standard in educational achievement.
To meet the primary objective, the board must—
(a) ensure that the school—
(i) is a physically and emotionally safe place for all students and staff; and
(ii) is inclusive of and caters for students with differing needs.
Boards need a balance of skills and experiences to ensure effective processes for consultation, planning, monitoring, reporting and reviewing the school |kura’sperformance are in place.
The board's decision-making process, all trustees work to take into account all relevant information, and to vote in the best interests of all students, regardless of which position individual trustees hold across the table.
The board will act in an ethical and respectful manner
Board business will be conducted in an ethical and respectful manner, in accordance with legislation and board policy.
Expectations and limitations -
As members of an effective governance team, each member of the board of trustees shall:
-ensure the needs of all students and their achievement is paramount
-be loyal to the school and its mission
-maintain and understand the values and goals of the school
-protect the special character of the school
-publicly represent the school in a positive manner
-respect the integrity of the principal and staff
-observe the confidentiality of non-public information acquired in their role as a trustee and not disclose to any other persons such information that might be harmful to the school
-be diligent and attend board meetings prepared for full and appropriate participation in decision making
-ensure that individual trustees do not act independently of the board’s decisions
-speak with one voice through board policies and ensure that any disagreements with the board’s stance are resolved within the board
-in the course of board meetings, disclose any interests in a transaction or decision where they, their family and/or partner, employer or close associate will receive a benefit or gain and leave the meeting for the duration of discussion and/or voting in relation to the matter
-recognise the lack of authority in any individual trustee or committee/working party of the board in any interaction with the principal or staff
-recognise that only the chair (working within the board’s agreed chair role description or delegation) or a delegate working under written delegation can speak for the board
continually self-monitor their individual performance as trustees against policies and any other current board evaluation tools
-be available to undertake appropriate professional development.
The Middle Years, meet the teacher afternoon that was due to be held on Wednesday will be postponed until next week Feb 27th.
New booking code and details will be posted and emailed later today.
We apologise for the inconvenience.
The dates for start-up for 2019 are below:
**Our school office will be open from Monday 21st January 2019 from 9:00am to 3:00pm.**
**Appointments for New Enrolments
The Deputy and Assistant Principals along with Senior Deans will be available over the holiday period from Wednesday, 23rd January. For appointments please contact the school office. (07) 866 5916
**School Start dates
Monday, 4th February 2019
Start of School for Term One for Years 1 -6; Years 7-10 is at 8:45am sharp
*Primary students Years 1-6 to go to their new classroom. *Years 7 - 10 - new students please meet at the flagpole; all other Years 7 -10 students please go to the hall.
*Year 11-13 Students are not required at school on this date unless it is to confirm course programmes with their Dean.
Tuesday, 5th February 2019
All Years 11-13 go to the hall
Our latest newsletter has just been emailed. You can find it here -