Dear Whānau and Caregivers,

While Allan is on leave in Term 2 Catherine Corcoran will be the Acting Principal. Alisha Chinnery will be the Acting Deputy Principal.

Whilst Catherine is Acting Principal her class will be taught by Jacqui van Herpt. She will be working with Catherine and families to ensure a smooth transition to Term 2.

The Board and school are very aware of the need to support continuity for our students and whanau during this time.

Allan was supported by the YMS Board to apply for one of the 105 sabbaticals available to principals covered by the Primary Principals' Collective Agreement (PPCA), in state or state-integrated primary schools. The Primary Principals' Sabbatical is a period of 10 school weeks' paid leave for principals to undertake professional learning, reflection and rejuvenation.

The Board supported Allan because we wanted to both support his professional development and because we are especially interested in his research topic. The focus of Allan's sabbatical is and his professional learning is to find out:

‘How I, as the tumuaki, can create a school culture wherein whānau are supported to read, and comment on, their children’s online class or individual blogs?’

I want to provide the best conditions for my school’s kiako and akonga to better partner with our kura’s whānau in the online environment. Whānau partnerships with class and individual blogs puts the student at the centre of the learning and has the potential to inspire them.'

Building Community Connections is a YMS strategic intention and the Board are interested in the results of Allan’s learning.

The Board sees many positives for our staff in supporting professional development opportunities

While Allan is on sabbatical from school our Deputy Principal, Catherine Corcoran, will be our YMS Acting Principal. Catherine comes with a wealth of knowledge already and is working with Allan this term to make sure she is up to speed with the workings of our school. Alisha Chinnery will act as Deputy principal during this time.

We are very fortunate that Jacqui van Herpt will be teaching in Te Pihinga during Term 2. Jacqui is our go to reliever at YMS and she is a dedicated and experienced teacher. Jacqui is already known to many of the children in Te Pihinga as she taught one day per week in Te Kākano last year.

Yours Sincerely,

Rebecca Webster Presiding Member - Yaldhurst Model School Board