Minutes of A.G.M. and Principal's Annual Report's

WESTERN HEIGHTS PRIMARY SCHOOL
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HELD ON WEDNESDAY 3rd MAY 2006
Time: 7.00

Present:
Mr Mike Saunders -Chairperson
Mr Peter Bennett -Deputy Chairperson
Mr Ray Renner -Treasurer
Mr David Aitchison -B.O.T. Member
Mrs Sandra Hewetson -Secretary / Principal
Mrs Jo-Ann Yukich -Staff Representative

Visitors
Mrs Pat Hutton -Deputy Principal / Minute Taker
Mr Andrew Noakes -Deputy Principal
Adele Nummy -Teacher
Trudi Brocas -Parent

1. Welcome and Apologies
Welcome to the B.O.T Members and prospective members and visitors.

2. Acceptance of Agenda
Agenda accepted by all. Aitchison / Saunders
3. Minutes of 2005 A.G.M
The minutes were accepted and signed by Chairperson. Saunders / Renner

4. Chairperson’s Report
Verbal report -
Statuary requirements have been met.
Thank you to Principal & Staff.
B.O.T. Members wished Paul Henry well with his life in Germany. Saunders / Aitchison

5. Principal’ Report
Principal’s Annual Report written under the guidelines.
2005 Annual Report completed.
Included in Annual report were - Parents and Community ERO Report, Three year programme of self review and Strategic Targets.
Principal’s Report received Yukich / Aitchison
6. Financial Report
Financial Report presented by Ray Renner
Ended the year in a healthy position. Balance up from last year, even with the development of the hall, purchase of gym equipment and computers.
Learning resources and teacher salaries more spent here (which is good). International students were down this year. Report received Renner / Bennett
7. Annual Report
Annual report accepted Saunders / Bennett
8. Nominations for Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Secretary & Treasurer
Chairperson – Jo-Ann Yukich nominated Mike Saunders. Seconded by Ray Renner. Motion carried. Mike re-elected.
Secretary, Treasurer and Deputy Chairperson - as appointed in 2004. – rolled over.
Mrs Trudi Brocas is co-opted to fill the vacancy left by Paul Henry until the next election.

The A.G.M. declared closed at: 7.30pm
Mrs Sandra Hewetson
Secretary
Board of Trustees

SH/MJG
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Western Heights Primary

Principal’s Annual Report to the Board of Trustees and Community

Date: 15 December 2005

School Roll: 1st July: 553 December 1: 594

Section 1: Curriculum
Literacy:
The focus this year has been reading and language with targets set in these areas. Three teachers have been on a Lead Teacher Literacy contract and Pat Hutton has been supporting them.
ESOL: The English Language Assistants have been involved in rigorous in-depth professional development programme as part of a Ministry contract. Patricia Jerkovich and Pat Hutton have supported the ELAS with follow up workshops and meetings. Our four ELAs - English Language assistants graduated December 5.
Numeracy:
Four teachers have attended numeracy workshops twice a term, as these teachers were not involved in the initial workshops. We are endeavoring to sustain the Numeracy programme. Lead Teachers from each syndicate attended separate Numeracy workshops.
A school based professional support programme is planned for 2006 as a follow up from 2005.
ERO supplied some very good suggestions for areas to work on in our Numeracy programme as described in their report.
All the strategic goals set in curriculum areas lead to the Best Evidence Synthesis - data to improve teachers practice for improved learning outcomes.
Children with Special Abilities:
Maths:
Geof Woolford worked with 24 children once a week for two terms. He took maths extension classes for children identified as gifted in maths in both the middle and senior school. Teachers were able to observe some of the sessions.
French: A tutor took a group of 12 year six children once a week for two terms to learn French. The criteria for selection were high PAT Listening results and classroom aptitude.
Children with Special Needs:
Pat Hutton continued to coordinate the meetings, specialist help and individual education plans for these children. She continued to hold Effective Practice meetings each term with as many outside agencies as possible. Parents were always part of the process so this aspect of Pat’s job is quite time consuming.
Both Resource teachers of Literacy RTLIT and Resource teachers of learning and behaviour worked on site on a regular basis.
One special needs student obtained a space at the Ranui RTLB class and moved there in November.

Information Technology
The management of the computers and IT network was done in partnership with New Era IT who supplied technical support for three hours each week. The onsite manager, Joy Waddell, was given support in the office to enable her to take the extra responsibility.
In October we became a Telecom School Zone site for many reasons
1. To reduce the cost of internet use. (Was $650 + a month now $300)
2. To have a safer site for children to use the World Wide Web
3. To enable us to report and administer internet use.
4. To give teachers the opportunity to have a web based way of working. There are many others ….

Section 2: Review
The Education Review Office reviewed the school in June and the focus as set by us was Numeracy.
The National areas of interest were Maori and Pacific Island Achievement and Health. Although we had a community health survey to be done in term three, it was a non compliance issue, as they reviewed in June.
The report was positive and gave the school a very good report. *copy of the letter to the community is included in this annual report.
The Charter and strategic plan was accepted by the Ministry in May with a very complimentary letter stating that our plan and targets showed continuity with the previous year.

At the teacher only day held at the end of the summer break the strategic plan, charter and targets where the focus for discussion. Staff reflected on the Charter and its content and it was decided after looking at the evidence of practice we do ‘walk the talk’ and the charter reflects the ‘Western Heights Way’.

Section 3: Personnel
Several teachers were on leave without pay this year for travel and life style changes. The LTR teachers in these positions have been able to stay on for 2006. Three positions were made permanent and several others are being carried over for 2006.
By contracting New Era IT to manage the IT network, we were able to manage the network successfully even with Julie King on leave. The term ‘a negative’ can always turned into an opportunity and that is how we view the staff changes.

Section 4: Assets
The school continues to purchase computers and other hardware. A new server was installed at January to increase the capacity of our network. The cost was $12,000.
$9,000 was spent on new gymnastic equipment. A stage was purchased for the hall at a cost of $11,000 and the Portage Trust contributed to its cost.
The new mobile sound system was purchased at $5,000 and it is used every day for outside activities.
Vandalism: This continues to be a major expense and during the year the Ministry ‘regraded us’. Up to November, $20,000 was spent on damage around the school. The police have been involved with many of the incidents. The Ministry are not prepared to pay for extra fencing and we have also questioned the effectiveness of the security contracts with patrol companies.

Section 5: Health and Safety
We received 200 replies to the heath survey sent out to the school community in August.
The survey showed these six aspects of health in order of importance to our community.
1: Know how to care for our body
2: Know what healthy eating is and how it affects our learning
3: Identify positive and negative aspects of relationships.
4: Develops co-operation and respect through playing games
5: Know how to adopt simple safety practices in the sun, on the road and in the water
6: Participate in activities to develop co-ordination and motor skills.

162 out of 182 said they would be happy to support a water only school.
We will pursue the water only issue at the beginning of next year.
Health and Safety BOT responsibilities: Quote from ERO report June 2005
The BOT with the help of the principal, governs a successful school. It has generally robust systems to safeguard the health and safety of staff and pupils.

Section 6: Compliance
A community survey on Health was sent out in August. The results were reported to the community in Term 4 and the report to the BOT was done in November. All BOT members had received updates on the survey in term 3 and received the community newsletter.
Principal Appraisal
The Board Chair appraised the principal against the performance management standards and the ERO report. He was satisfied with the principal’s performance.
Code of Practice:
This was another area of National Interest for the ERO team. Their findings were positive.
Quote ‘Student welfare is supported by close relationships established between school personnel and international students and their families. Support services are effectively tailored to meet the needs of students.’
Electrical Testing:
All electrical leads and appliances were tested by an electrician in March and are tagged and dated.

Section 7: General
The parents attended a maths seminar in March, two parent reporting evenings and numerous student activity events.
The trips, hikes, camps and days out were well supported by parents and caregivers ensuring that adult/teacher ratio policies were met and teachers were well supported.

When Children are at Western Heights they should not only be able to become skilful in reading, writing, speaking and maths. We are also striving to produce students who participate and contribute effectively know their own place in the world and have the confidence to become active participants in contexts that are new to them. They need to be able to think; self manage and relate well to others.

The Board has been very helpful and supportive of the Principal and staff in our endeavor to achieve our goals in a cooperative, caring, and professional school.