STUDENT PRIVACY

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has asked us to share their Back to school FAQs, which provides guidance around student information. Link here. Example questions are:

  • Can a school give student information to a DHB dental service?
  • Can a school publish a child’s information?
  • Can a school put parent details in a school directory?
  • How does a school respond to a request for a student’s information?

TOMORROW’S SCHOOLS REVIEW

Tomorrow’s Schools Review is open for consultation. We are encouraging schools, Principals, Boards and parents to have their say. Link here for further information.

Earlier this month we sent discussion guidelines to our schools and Proprietors in response to the Tomorrow Schools Review Report. If you would like a copy of the guidelines, please email nzceooffice@nzceo.org.nz. We welcome schools and Proprietors to share their feedback with our office as it will help inform our submission.

SCHOOL TRUSTEE ELECTIONS

NZSTA have released a quick guide on important dates for the school trustee elections this year:

01 May Select Returning Office

08 May Close Main Roll (noon)

10 May Call for Nominations

22 May Close Supplementary Roll (noon)

24 May Nominations Close (noon)

29 May Voting Papers Sent

7 June Election Day (voting closes noon)

13 June Count Votes

14 June Board take Office

For more information, visit their elections website.

A PARENTS GUIDE TO INSTAGRAM: NEW ZEALAND EDUCATION 2019

Keeping students safe on line is a challenge that teachers and parents face daily.

Instagram and Netsafe have recently released a guide for parents to keep young people safe as they share their life in pictures online. Share it with your community. Link here.

In addition, the Ministry shared Five tips for teachers to keep students safe on social media, which are useful for staff. Link here.

WHICH WAY NZ

This new driving app helps school-aged chldren improve their decision making skills. It has has recently been released nationwide. It is simple to download and offers opportunities for students to win free prizes. Download from a Google Play or Apple app store. Click here to read more.

2019 PRIME MINISTER’S EDUCATION EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Entries opened 25 February and close 5 April. There is a new category on Excellence in Health and Wellbeing and the 2019 Focus Prize in Excellence in Māori-medium Education.

De La Salle College, Mangere East was a finalist in 2018 in the Teaching and Learning section. Here is their awards video. John Paul College, Rotorua was a finalist in 2018 in the Education Focus Prize. Here is their awards video.

GENESIS SCHOOL – GEN STEM AND SOLAR TRUST

Genesis Energy has established a new trust to give away $50,000 worth of STEM and solar equipment. Applications close 12 April. Link here for more.