Items Arising From The Strategic Plan
Goal One: Futurewatch
Goal Two: Authenticity
Goal Three: Forum
Goal Four: Transformation
Goal Five: School Leadership
Goal Six: Innovation
Goal Seven: Relationships
Goal Eight: Viability
Goal Nine: Organizational development
Goal One: Futurewatch
- Analyse demographic information from the 2006 census and develop a paper for proprietors and diocesan offices to assist them to respond to identified changes and emerging trends. Continue to promote strategic clustering of schools where appropriate in urban and rural settings. (Strategic Plan 1.1, 1.5)
Statistics have been prepared, including regional and local patterns. These have been circulated to relevant stakeholders.
- Complete development of guidance to assist Boards of Trustees when a teacher’s actions publicly contravene principles of Catholic Character. (1.4)
This action is under development. Guidance will be circulated in 2008.
- Continue to promote to Catholic schools the need to ensure the safety and human rights of students, teachers and parents in Catholic primary and secondary schools. (1.4)
This is monitored through the reporting of Special Character Reviewers, who are tasked with monitoring schools’ effectiveness in this area.
- Continue to engage in dialogue with appropriate Ministers of the Crown and their officials, and to monitor emerging legislation and wider government policy, for its impact on Catholic education. (1.2, 1.3)
Ongoing. See also details on page 3, 8.0.
- Monitor the application of the Ministry of Education’s guidelines on conflicts of interest for Board of Trustees members, and provide clarification for Boards if needed. (1.4)
Ongoing. Currently no issues have arisen.
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Goal Two: Authenticity
- In Term 4 2007, in conjunction with NCRS, gather statistics to update the 2003 survey on the Religious Education qualifications and certification of teachers of Religious Education in Catholic schools, and also seek comments on the adequacy of the pool of applicants for DRS positions.
The survey was sent out at the start of term 4, and those schools that did not reply are currently being approached for their information. Compilation of the data will be completed in early 2008.
- In conjunction with national Catholic principal groups, shareholders, diocesan Catholic Schools Offices and the National Centre for Religious Studies continue to develop strategies to ensure a steady stream of graduates from education providers, who are well trained and suitably qualified to teach in Catholic Integrated schools. (2.2)
Lists of professional development available throughout the county are updated annually and circulated widely. The poster for schools advertising teaching in Catholic Schools as a career option has been updated and is about to be reprinted and circulated to relevant parties. Careers teachers received a circular explaining the courses in special character available to students at university Colleges of Education.
- Continue to provide two one-day seminars for designated reviewers. (2.4)
The first seminar for the year has been held, the second is to be held in early December.
- Continue to work alongside the Proprietors of the three Catholic Maori boarding schools, to assist in bringing about the strategic repositioning of the schools, to enable them to enhance their educational outcomes and build a culture of success. (2.6)
Ongoing.
- Continue to promote good practice in educating Pasifika students. (2.7)
An article on this topic was published in the September edition of Good News and the News.
- Continue to support the South Auckland Catholic schools’ collaborative network in its work to raise educational achievement levels in the schools. (2.7)
Ongoing.
- Gather information from a variety of sources (including schools, ethnic chaplains and specialist services) on working with and supporting students and families from ethnic minorities ((in particular Asian families) and develop a plan for action in 2008. (2.7)
An article on this topic was published in the September edition of Good News and the News. Ethnic chaplains have not yet been approached.
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Goal Three: Forum
- Continue to provide an annual forum for principals of newly established schools to share best practice, and to promote their initiatives to the wider system. (3.2)
On analysis it was decided that there was no need for this forum to be held. The forum will be reinstituted in the future if it seems useful.
- During 2007 and 2008 facilitate discussion by Bishops, diocesan leaders and Proprietors on the development of national policy on chaplains and lay chaplains in schools (3.3)
Planning is under way for the preparation of a paper.
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Goal Four: Transformation
- Publish material on values in Catholic schools, to support schools in their work to implement the new national curriculum.
Material is being gathered for this item. Further action will be taken after the launch of the National Curriculum on 6 November 2007.
A paper on Pastoral Care in Catholic Schools was published in May.
- Investigate, and if appropriate action, the proposal to supply Catholic schools with material on Catholic values and Religious Education to insert in the new national curriculum document.
Work has been undertaken jointly with NCRS, and a document has been prepared, for completion and release after the new curriculum becomes available to 6 November 2007.
- Develop a paper for Catholic schools on Biblical and Papal statements about the environment and ecology.
Considerable material has been gathered for this paper, and consultations have occurred with Caritas on the topic. The paper will be written in 2008.
- Provide a paper for secondary school career education advisers on the vocational aspects of career choices, in particular on pathways to vocations to religious life, full time Church work etc.
Material has been gathered for this paper and consultation is currently underway with a member of the National Vocations Advisory Team.
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Goal Five: School Leadership
- Continue to administer the senior principals’ scholarships.
Scholarships have been awarded, in accordance with the timeline.
- Continue work to develop a programme to support development for prospective principals. (5.2)
The 2007 programme has been held, and applicants are currently being sought for the first programme of 2008.
- Work with diocesan offices and NCRS to refine, implement and promote professional standards for principals and teaching staff in schools, relating to Catholic Character. (5.3)
Consultation has begun on this and an initial paper has been sought.
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Goal Six: Innovation
- Work collaboratively with specific overseas Catholic Education Offices, in order to create structured and regular exchanges of information, which will increase awareness of international standards in Catholic schooling. (6.1)
Annual reports are exchanged with a number of offices. (Also, c.f. 12.3, page 4)
- Continue to publish Lighting New Fires, Good News and the News, and Aoraki to highlight innovation in Catholic schools. (6.2)
Seven editions of Lighting New Fires and two editions each of Good News and the News and Aoraki have been published, according to schedule.
- Redesign and republish the NZCPCIS Declaration of the Essential Characteristics of Authentic Catholic School Education, and as time permits update and publicise a further selection of materials previously published by the Office. (6.3)
The Declaration has been redesigned, with a folded mini-flyer version as well. It is likely to be dispatched to schools before the end of the year.
- Complete national guidelines on the structures, legal identity and Catholicity of Catholic early childhood centres. (6.4)
A document was presented to the Bishops Conference, and at their request additional material was prepared on financial security.
- Continue work to develop the Catholic Religious Education curriculum, to supplement the early childhood curriculum. (6.4)
The national working party held two very successful meetings. Consultations were held with staff from early childhood services in September and November.
- Provide ongoing facilitative and supportive services for the National Catholic Early Childhood Education Association. (6.4)
Ongoing.
- Continue to work with the leadership of Catholic Pacific Island communities to encourage them to set up Catholic Pacific Island early childhood centres. (6.4)
Ongoing.
- In association with NCRS work with NZQA and the Ministry of Education to improve the formal status of the Religious Education curriculum and assessment standards for senior secondary school students. (6.5)
The Ministry of Education has now instigated a working group to prepare Religious Studies Achievement Standards, which will be sufficiently broad to be useful in a wide range of schools. A working party, headed by Br Kevin Wanden, the Director of the National Centre for Religious Studies, is expected to produce Level One standards for use in 2009, with other levels following.
- Refine the list of topics needing research, publicise it to Catholic tertiary institutions, and endeavour to instigate research in these areas. (6.6)
This item is on hold while funding is confirmed.
- Work with NCRS, Catholic tertiary staff and diocesan Religious Education Advisors to make available to readers research in aspects of New Zealand Catholic education. (6.6)
Research has been requested from teachers undertaking masters studies, with little success. It is hoped to do a literature search on previously published research.
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Goal Seven: Relationships
- Organise the inaugural Catholic Boarding Schools/Hostels leadership seminar. (7.1)
This seminar was successful, and will take place again in 2008.
- Continue to enhance a positive profile for the Office amongst those it serves and interacts with. (7.3)
Ongoing.
- Manage the media to heighten the positive profile of Catholic schools. (7.4)
Ongoing. Work relating to Catholic Schools’ Day and to World Youth Day was particularly effective in promoting Catholic schools to the community. Risks have been handled as they arose.
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Goal Eight: Viability
- Set up professional development opportunities to familiarise those dealing with property issues with the Integrated Schools’ Property Handbook. (8.5)
Action awaits the preparation of the handbook by the Ministry of Education. The handbook is expected to be ready early in 2009.
- Help to facilitate with Proprietors the setting of attendance dues at levels of affordability for families in lower socio-economic strata. (8.8)
Arising from discussion with the Bishops at their meeting, a paper is being prepared on ways to enable lower income families to pay lower attendance dues.
The financial work under way with the Ministry of Education should help to relieve the pressure on attendance dues.
- Continue to develop a case for the provision of further governmental support for the retrofitting and development of buildings. (8.1, 8.8)
Major policy work under way with the Ministry of Education impacts on this item.
A further action relating to viability has been the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding with Duncan Dovico, which will provide Boards of Trustees with access to advice on audit issues if needed.
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Goal Nine: Organizational development
- Continue to deepen a culture of Total Quality Management within the Office. (9.1)
Ongoing.
- Ensure that effective performance systems operate in the Office, with a particular focus on high standards of communication, co-ordination, professional standards and forward planning. (9.1)
Ongoing. Improved mailout systems have reduced costs. Electronic banking systems have improved financial procedures.
- Identify staff professional development needs and meet these needs through in-house and externally delivered programmes and courses, as appropriate. (9.1)
Ongoing.
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