Dear all

It has been over a month since I started the petition regarding flaws in the management of Behaviour Management Policies.

My concerns related to procedural flaws within behaviour management in that inappropriate behaviours of last year and earlier this year remained inadequately addressed. I have also talked to a number of parents who had similar experiences over the past few years and lamented a breakdown of communication or trivialisation of the events.

In no way were my efforts tailored to a specific classroom, pupil or family at School. Rumours to this end are not factual.

Despite active efforts to silence my voice by the two past leaders of the School and by some parents, in a short amount of time and thanks to your support, substantial progress was already made.

·       The Acting Principal (who is replacing the Principal, on secondment from this Term and for the next 9 months) together with the remaining Board of Trustees have reinstated the “Behaviour Management Procedures” Document. I relied on this document at the Board meeting of 14 March to present the lacking procedure in respect of last year’s incidents of inappropriate behaviours. Following that meeting the said document was inexplicably removed from the website and declared as no longer valid without being replaced by a new policy. It is now back up on the website.

·       The Chair of the Board has subsequently been replaced by the Acting Chair of the Board as announced in writing in the newsletter of 5 May.

·       The review of the Student Achievement Award Policy has been brought forward by the remaining board members so as to ensure that under the new management a more robust selection process is followed. This will hopefully hinder the repeat of last year’s failures of this process when pupils showing inappropriate behaviour were rewarded with school Awards and House Leader roles and celebrated at the end of the year Price Giving ceremony in front of the community.

·       David Tennent, who I would like to congratulate for his appointment as Acting Principal from this term onwards, is now listening to parents’ concerns and taking onboard their concerns. He has already made procedural changes after only few days in his position.

In addition to the above, I have also requested that the Board considers/implements the following changes to add to the positive changes already being made since the addition of the Acting Principal and the current composition of the Board.

·       To facilitate better online access to the policies, without a supplemental log in (in addition to the log in to the School platform) which has to be requested from the School and creates an unreasonable obstacle for current parents. The School is currently working on this as per News Letter of 5 May.

·       To include a reconciliation meeting between the “victim” and the “perpetrator” to facilitate the relationship going forward (a sort of restorative justice) as part of the reviewed Behaviour Management Procedures. This aspect will hopefully be incorporated during the review of the policy currently underway.

·       To subject the School Kapa Haka Group (motioned by the School’s Principal at the time of the Board meeting of 14 March to be a legal entity independent from the School) to the same policies as the School, namely the Student Achievement Policy. Reason being that the Kapa Haka Group is perceived as being de facto part of the School and should therefore adhere to the same Student Achievement Policy selection criteria. This will hopefully address “perpetrators” being awarded Kapa Haka prizes at the end of the year Price Giving.

It is my expectation that going forward, the remaining and newly elected Board members together with the Acting Principal will be able to make the changes required to ensure compliance with the Behaviour Management Policies and otherwise tidy up policies and protocols at the School so that Te Hihi can become again a safe place for every child and a school every parent is proud to send their child to.

To those parents and caregivers who have concerns or complaints in respect of which they believe that in the past the processes were not followed when escalating them through the official channels of the School and would like to voice them now, please do follow those channels as they have been reinstated. In particular, the Acting Principal, David Tennent, will listen to you.

For more information regarding the correct channels please refer to the School Policies. It is a convoluted series of pages. You will find the information under the title “Health, Safety, and Welfare Policy”, subtitle “Behaviour Management”, 3rd paragraph refers to “concerns or complaints”, then scroll down to the reference “Raising Concerns” or “Making a Formal Complaint or Serious Allegation” and also view the chart “Concerns and Complaints Process”.

I trust that under the new management the processes explained in the School Policies can become the norm.

It is also noted that some families may have not been impacted by the incidents occurred at School and were not even aware of them taking place. Many of those families continue to experience a serene environment at School. What we would really like to ask is to show some empathy as there have been families who over the years and again at the end of last year and beginning of this year, have not been heard in regards to the expected procedural undertakings, many of those families may still have unresolved matters with the School and are now relieved that a dialogue is taking place with and procedures are being followed by the new management.

I realise that there will always be divided opinions when it comes to raising issues. The experience of some, however, is not everyone’s experience, and not for that reason less valid.  For those lucky enough to have never experienced their child being unhappy to go to school, the strain a child’s refusal to go to school puts on a family will remain a foreign concept.

In fact, for some kids, our School has been a tough place to go back to every day. For victims because they are not adequately heard and protected due to the inefficiency of the required procedures; and for the “aggressors” because they are not adequately assisted or counselled in order to learn from their experience, and work on their behaviour so as to go back into the classroom to learn and play.

My efforts and this petition were aimed at reinstating the systems and procedures that protect our children and look after their wellbeing. This is something all parents care about, I am sure.

Finally, a big thank you. To you all who have signed this petition and special mention for those who have supported this cause without even knowing me, I would like to say a sincere thank you for your support. Your support has been heart-warming, encouraging and instrumental for some of the most important changes made. On behalf of all the parents who understand how much of an improvement was and still is needed at our School: Thank you.

I have faith that the procedural issues are now being addressed with the new management. I would campaign again for Te Hihi School and community to ensure that the School remains a happy and safe place for every pupil, teacher and parent to be part of.

Thank you each and every one of you.

Nadja Hawkins