Another three year term has almost finished for Boards of Trustees around the country with the Triennial elections to be held next month. Our board will have three positions up for election, so change is inevitable.

The last three years have been full of challenges for our Board. So much has been achieved, but there is always so much more to do!! Deb Fitzgibbon has completed 6 years as a trustee at Cheviot Area School.  This is a fantastic contribution to our school and community, and I sincerely thank Deb for the hours and hours of time she has dedicated to our school not only as a trustee, but as a NZ Area Schools Representative,  a parent, volunteer, manager, gardener and the many other roles she has played.  Deb has made the decision to retire from the Board at this election and have a well earned break.  

I hope there are people out there seriously considering standing. I have sent out information about the role of the trustee over the last few months, but if you want more information, there is plenty on the New Zealand Trustees Association web site www.nzsta.org.nz.  Chatting to current board members will also give you great insight into the commitment required. Look out for your voting information in the post.

Post election there will be inductions and opportunities for training sessions, along with conferences that can be attended, either NZ Trustees Association, or NZ Area Schools Association.  Both hold excellent conferences with inspiring speakers and brilliant trustee education sessions. These are great opportunities to network with trustees from around the country.

Also happening next month is our Education Review Office visit (better known as ERO).  So what does ERO do?

"Our role is to independently evaluate and report on the quality of education and care for learners in early learning services and schools. Since ERO was established in 1989, we have moved from being 'inspectors', when our job was auditing to ensure compliance - to an organisation that engages in a collaborative evaluation process, with the goal to ensure positive learning outcomes for all of NZ's children and young people."

To do this they use School Evaluation Indicators. These  six indicators are known to influence school effectiveness and student outcomes:

1. Stewardship

2. Leadership of conditions for equity and excellence

3. Educationally powerful connections and relationships

4. Responsive curriculum, effective teaching and opportunity to learn

5. Professional capability and collective capacity

6. Evaluation, inquiry and knowledge building for improvement and innovation.

The Board and Management have been working hard on these areas over the last three years, but as I said, there is always so much more to do!

Lynda Dickson

Chairperson

ldickson@cheviot.school.nz

0276766199