In May we held our AGM welcoming new governance team members and reporting on our 2017 year.

Our annual report for 2017 (attached) showed another year of continued growth in student participation. Growth trends indicate an increase in whole class participation (where children learn together with their classroom teacher and their online teacher as a whole class group). Te Reo Māori and Kapa Haka programmes were in high demand with approximately two thirds of learners in those classes. Although our main school demographic is still small rural schools, there are more schools joining from urban schools, in particular from South Auckland. Our student demographic is 61% Māori and Pasifika children. 

We had 870 enrolments in 53 weekly classes = 46,110 hours of learning in 2017!

Geoff Wood in his chairperson's report outlines the need for the sustainable funding and support for the VLN Primary School to enable us to reach our full potential to provide for our schools and learners and for the Governance Group to leverage on its collective expertise to move us forward.

We thanked and farewelled leaving Governance Group members: Janine Chin (Confucius Institute), Wayne Howes (Moanataiari School), Hinerangi Murphy (Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi), Melanie Matthews (Wairakei School), and Jen Vincent (Marco School).

And welcomed new and returning Governance Group members: Lorraine Makutu (Mangere Central School), Kath Johnson (Halfmoon Bay School) and Rick Whalley (Core Education).

You can see our current Governance Group members profiles on our website here.

A big thank you to Geoff Wood who has led as Chairperson through the last three years. Your dedication and hard work has contributed to where we are today. Rick Whalley is picking up the position of Chairperson assisted by John Owen as Deputy Chair.