LSM Update

Thank-you to all students, parents and staff who completed the comprehensive online college community survey. The response rate was very good, and all responses greatly appreciated.

The College Board will be meeting on Saturday November 18th to evaluate the quantitative survey data and qualitative comments feedback to inform them about the issues, experiences, and ideas that have been shared through the survey process. Additionally, several Board members have been meeting with smaller focus groups to gather more qualitative data as well, and this too will be evaluated alongside the survey results data.

All of this information will be taken onboard and used by the Board to review the College’s current Strategic Plan and to ultimately set new strategic goals and to develop actions for change and improvement moving forward. Once the College Board have met and completed this work, the survey data and comments will be further summarised and this information will be shared with you before the end of the year.

The College has a number of fantastic social service and student support service providers/partners (Taiwhenua o Tamatea, Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, Connect Youth Trust, Capital Training, Epic Ministries, He Taonga Tāmata, Public Health) that work with us and we are looking to strengthen these relationships further, and develop deeper partnerships with them in supporting our students and rangatahi. They are able to engage with our young people in different ways than we can as a college, and they are in a unique position to be able to provide us with honest feedback on what we as a College can do, to improve what we do.

The Board has recently undertaken training through the New Zealand School Trustees Association alongside the Board’s contracted financial services provider, and this has been very helpful in providing the Board with clear guidance around their core governance functions of setting strategic direction and of using public resourcing prudently and effectively to support improved student progress, achievement, and wellbeing.

The College’s 2024 staffing needs and Budget are currently also being worked through and we expect that the College will be fully staffed, that we will see further investment in the College’s building upgrades to meet students’ needs, and that the planning for a new facility to cater for Year 7 & 8 students technology will be advanced. We will keep you posted.

The Principal is also tasked with: undertaking a review of and improving the College’s Behaviour Management system and Restorative Practice Framework; developing a plan around improving the Student Support Centre facilities; developing a school-wide Student Safety Plan; developing a cohesive Localised Curriculum across the college; developing a Memorandum of Understanding with our service partners to strengthen service co-ordination; improve both the college’s internal and external communications; to develop strategies that will lift community confidence in the college; and to grow our roll and market share of secondary-aged students across the Central Hawkes Bay catchment.

Kevin Palmer

Limited Statutory Manager

Phone: 0274-705-100