SECKA Update 02 June 2023
Welcome to the second SECKA update for 2023, our online newsletter keeping you informed about what's happening across our Kāhui Ako.
Teacher Only Day 2023
On the 6th of June, over 250 staff from across the Kāhui Ako, came together for a professional development day.
We took the opportunity to launch our new Achievement Challenges which arose from the distillation of voice from stakeholders across the Kāhui Ako, as well as the synthesis of current data. We shared these Achievement Challenges in our previous newsletter and were pleased to officially launch them at our Teacher Only Day.
We were honoured to hear from two key speakers on the day. The first keynote speaker was Dr Lehan Stemmet. Dr Lehan Stemmet is an expert on Resilience. He holds a Ph.D. in Behavioural Neuroscience, Experimental Psychology, and has been key in supporting our Across School teacher team with growing our own understanding in this area.
Dr Stemmet donated his time and expertise to be with us, as he is a strong believer in this crucial work in schools to support our ākonga early, so their resilience capabilities as emerging adults allows them to be connected, critical, confident, life long learners, able to take their place in society and contribute effectively as members of God’s family.
The second keynote speaker was Rosina Wikaira. Rosina has worked in education for over 20 years, with vast knowledge and experience in educational leadership, management and pedagogical coaching. Rosina’s Principalship spans 15 years, and she recently graduated with a Masters of Contemporary Education. Her practice-based research project was focused on, “Building & Sustaining Effective Leadership Practices to Improve Educational Success of Maori Learners, in Culturally Appropriate ways”. Having a firm foundation of “Kaupapa Māori me ona Tikanga” gives Rosina the confidence to be unapologetic about putting ākonga Māori first. Leading from a kaupapa Māori belief system allows Rosina to act on these key beliefs, normalising Māori values, behaviours and understanding.
We wish to thank both of these incredible speakers for taking the time to prompt our thinking and help ground the mahi of workstreams.
The Across School Teacher Team also launched the Four Cs tool; a cognitively portable tool, that helps us to activate our workstreams.
Thank you to the 45% of people who responded to the feedback survey. We are currently collating the responses and will feed this back to you in the next newsletter.
The slide show from the day is available below.
The Four Cs
SECKA’s ‘four Cs’ are our new drivers to support bi-culturally embedded practices, agency, resilience, and wellbeing in our classrooms and school communities.
Please check out the position paper and slideshow on the new Four Cs website. For those wanting a visual reminder of the Cs for your everyday practice, download and print the Cs from here.
End of SELO Professional Development
The successful completion of 250 hours with the SELO professional development programme concluded on the 8th of June. We thank Mina and Barb for their valuable knowledge of Te Ao Māori and guiding and supporting kaiako to develop their knowledge and grow their confidence to weave Te Reo Māori and culture into everyday practice, contributing to a rich environment where language, identity and culture are valued. Ngā mihi maioha!
Numeracy Workstream Update
This year began the launch of a new Numeracy workstream.
This workstreams goal is to complete the Mahi surrounding Achievement Challenge 4: Building Teacher Capability in Numeracy.
To improve achievement in mathematics and statistics by developing effective (research based) pedagogical approaches that aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, Common Practice Model and new NCEA co-requisite.
During the last few months, this workstream has begun by taking an active part in the Consultation of Te Mātaiaho, Mathematics and Statistics consultation groups, investigating what a structured approach to Mathematics looks like, and meeting with schools to understand what Mathematics and Statistics looks like across our Kāhui Ako.
Check out the workstream website and watch this space as this workstream continues to grow.
Literacy Workstream Update
The work of the Memorandum of Understanding refresh has introduced a new achievement challenge: To improve achievement in Literacy by developing effective (research based) pedagogical approaches that align with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, Common Practice Model and new NCEA corequisite.
Feedback from students, parents, and teachers has emphasised the importance of strong literacy skills as a fundamental factor for success across all areas of learning and in life.
To achieve this goal, we recognise the significance of building literacy capability among our teachers. By equipping teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge, we can work towards achieving equitable outcomes for all students.
Through the collective efforts of Within School Teachers leading the inquiry process, we are exploring various aspects of literacy. For more information and updates on the progress being made, please visit our dedicated literacy website.
Structured Literacy Hui
Structured Literacy Hui will take a break for Term 3 and resume in Term 4.
Our Lady Star of the Sea School will host next and share their journey with us. These hui are a valuable opportunity for teachers to connect with educators from across our schools and share best literacy practice.
Where: Our Lady Star of the Sea School
When: Thursday 19 October
Time: 3.30pm
All are welcome to attend so pop the date into your calendar! RSVPs will be sent out closer to the date.
Bi-Culturally Embedded Practices Workstream
Through the development of our Memorandum of Understanding refresh, our Achievement Challenge 1 aims to: Build teacher capability in the use of bi-culturally embedded practices to increase our students’ / ākonga understanding and knowledge of Te Ao Māori in its unique place in Aotearoa New Zealand.
As a Christ-centred Kāhui Ako, we aim to work together to lift the capabilities of all kaiako to grow our ākonga to reach their full potential for God’s glory. Through this, we seek ways to promote Te Ao Māori and Mātauranga maori, deepen our knowledge of the cultural narratives within our schools and honour a living treaty through bi-cultural teaching.
As such, we recognise that Aotearoa New Zealand is privileged to be the one and only home of the Māori culture (Te Ao Māori). For this reason, although we are a multicultural country, it is, first and foremost our responsibility as treaty partners to protect, participate in and work in partnership to promote Te Ao Māori.