Otaki Convenors' Meeting

On Thursday 16 May Convenors met in Ōtaki and were hosted by the Te Reanga Ipurangi Ōtaki Education Trust. We had a warm greeting from Rachel and Jim (trustees) and it was interesting to see the great work the Trust is doing to support the local community

• Trust established under the mana of Ngāti Raukawa to serve the Ōtaki community - the Trust also sponsor the Central Pulse netball team.
• promote and lift educational achievement.
• contribute to the survival and prosperity of Māori as Māori.
• promote educational development of all people.
• promote the learning infrastructure for kura, schools and home learning.

I was impressed with Rachel's passion for the local community, and the infrastructure and opportunities the Trust is providing for all learners.

Takeaways from the day

• this kaupapa is about sharing PLD across schools and clusters. No one is telling us to do this, we have all agreed this is what we want to do.
• Blogger is the best platform for teaching Cybersmart. It enables us to engage outside of the community, for example, Summer Learning Journey. It enables children to make connections in a supported way and teach Digital Citizenship.

Data Collection

• important to include all children in data set. 
• we can advocate for them if we know who they are.
• once we have the evidence, we can advocate for these children ... difficult to do this if we only have anecdotal evidence. It requires visibility.

Junior Data
Why PM and not Ready to Read

• no one has figured out how to use Ready to Rewad consistently.
• PM is a better assessment tool - greater consistency.
• Why do we gather Junior data? Important to know if we are making a difference and we want to share good practice.

Board Forums
Russell also discussed the value of engaging our boards and holding board forums once a term. Some suggestions

• Get NZSTA to run a session
• Ministry of Education
• Other social agences; Police, OT, CDHB, ...

Another valuable opportunity to connect, collaborate and problem solve!

The Digital Inclusion Blueprint

On Friday 3 May The Hon Dr Megan Woods launched the Blueprint at Hornby Primary School.

Defining what it means to be digitally included
"A digitally included person is someone who has access to affordable and accessible digital devices and services at a time and place convenient to them, as well as the motivation, skills, and trust to use the internet to pursue and realise meaningful economic outcomes." (Digital Inclusion Research Group, 2017).

Hornby Primary School was privileged to host this event. I believe this was acknowledgement for the wonderful work Uru Mānuka has been doing in this digital/pedagogical space over the past 4.5 years, and we must also acknowledge the wonderful support of the Manaiakalani Education Trust (MET) and The Manaiakalani Programme (TMP) which has enabled us to get to where we are now.

TMP encapsulates the statement above defining what it means to be digitally included, our Uru Mānuka students and whanau:

• have access to affordable digital devices
• benefit from a proven pedagogical framework, including Cybersmart curriculum
• are empowered and display high levels of motivation and engagement

We have not reached The Holy Grail yet, but we are most certainly on the right bus!

Pat Snedden (MET Chair) was MC for the launch, once again recognition for Manaiakalani and TMP. As usual, Pat delivered a motivating compelling case for digital inclusion and left the Minister in no doubts that our tamariki were expecting big things from this commitment, and especially expected to see the Blueprint supported with plent of money - pūtea!

 I must congratulate Rūma Toru who welcomed our guests onto school grounds with a beautiful waiata.

Four of our pupils shared their learning with the Minister after the ceremony.