A REAL SOUTHERN EXPERIENCE
If you haven’t already registered for the NZPF Southland hosted conference 23–25 September then now is the time. ‘Early Bird’ discounts run until 1 July so take advantage, and think about bringing your deputies and assistant principals with you. The programme is themed on navigating new pathways for leadership and many of the key note addresses and workshops will be equally relevant to both you and your leadership team. One Keynote being talked up will be presenting in New Zealand for the first time. He is Richard Gerver. According to Sir Ken Robinson, “Richard Gerver is one of the clearest and most passionate voices for radical change both in education and in business. As a highly successful and revolutionary school principal he has transformed the expectations and achievements of children, teachers and communities alike. In his compelling presentations and books he now takes his powerful message of hope and possibility to educators, policy makers and business leaders around the world. It’s a message that has to be heard.” Gerver was awarded the prestigious School Head Teacher of the Year Award at the British National Teaching Awards in 2005 after turning a failing school into a global innovation success story. Communication, empowerment and impact are, according to Gerver, the principles underpinning creative leadership. He is a strong critic of modern day global educational reform, including performance pay for teachers. In an article published last year, he described performance pay as equating teachers with industrial workers who need bonus structures for motivation, this practice, he writes “[stems] from the workhouses and factory landscapes of 19th century Britain.” Of teachers he says, “The vast majority of teachers choose to work in education not for money and certainly not for an easy life, but to enact the simple moral imperative that is to serve a community and its children, to invest in the future and to leave a legacy that is greater than their own.” Enthusiastic commentators describe him as life changing and even moderates call him inspirational. Gerver will share the Invercargill
Craig, Chapman, Schools’ ICT Advisor, funded by ILT Foundation
stage with several more very strong keynote speakers. Two of these are Mo Fox, who fuses art and design to create problem solving techniques and Patti Dobrowolski, who will demonstrate how to be a visual goal setter. Both are seasoned presenters nationally and internationally and bring diverse approaches to creativity and leadership. See the conference website at http://www.nzpfconference.co.nz/speakers for more. Following the keynotes there will be break-out sessions or four ‘world café’ times. The four ‘worlds’ will be creativity, e-learning,
The venue provides ample break out spaces where delegates can gather and discuss, network or just socialise
Ample free parking space surrounds Stadium Southland
culture and leadership. Each will be facilitated by an expert in the field to help bolster discussion. Keynotes will, in turn, have introduced and prompted thoughts and ideas in each of these areas. Because we all know how important it is to remain connected to the outside world when attending conference, there will be free WIFI that will work every day, every time, everywhere in the stadium for all of us! The conference MC remains a mystery as deep as any supermassive black hole although as this journal goes to print there are indications that an announcement is imminent. According to the rumours, televisual fame and much fun is guaranteed . . . can’t wait!
It’s a long way south to Invercargill and whilst closer to the Antarctic than any other city in the world, you won’t find an emperor penguin crossing the main street or a leopard seal basking on nearby Bluff ’s recliner rocks. That’s not to say the Southland city doesn’t have its own special attractions and while you are there, you’d be well advised to take in a few. The Southland Museum is a good starting place and there you can meet the tuatara family of fifty. The museum’s tuatara breeding programme is unequalled in the world and centenarian ‘Henry’ tuatara continues to sire young in captivity. Any respectable chocolate lover won’t miss Invercargill’s ‘Seriously Good Chocolate Company’ which describes itself as ‘Pure New Zealand Indulgence’. The on-site café offers excellent food options and of course the best hot chocolate ever. A tour of the factory can be booked for those keen to observe first-hand the craft of chocolate making. Fine examples of Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco architecture scatter the central city and expansive, carefully designed public gardens contribute to the charm, tranquillity and exquisite beauty. The attractions abound but in the end the greatest attraction of all is the people. ‘It’s all about our distinct style of hospitality,’ says Ben Witheford, Chair of the conference committee, ‘We know how to make people feel welcome and show them a good time.’ The conference venue is the newly constructed state-of-the-art ILT (Invercargill Licensing Trust) Stadium and Velodrome. ‘There’s no chance of a roof cave in here,’ quipped Ben, ‘no matter how much snow falls in September.’ He was referring to the 2012 stadium roof collapse when the weight of an unprecedented snow fall proved too much for the roof structure which buckled under the strain. It has been rebuilt to very stringent standards so that such a catastrophe could never happen again. The ILT is a special feature of Southland. The Trust owns pretty much all the Southland hotels and profits are poured back into the community. It’s a system from which sport and education benefit greatly. ‘We have this amazing Stadium because of the Trust,’ says Ben. ‘It was the first indoor velodrome to be built in New Zealand,’ he boasts. The Trust’s generosity doesn’t stop there. ‘Every school in Invercargill was given an interactive whiteboard by the Trust,’ says Ben, ‘and the Trust funds a full time teacher, Craig Chapman, to support and advise schools in their IT programmes. It also supports the ‘Enrich’ programme for talented and gifted kids and pours money into school sports,’ says Ben.
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The Final Piece In Your Licensing Puzzle
Entertainment ANNUAL SCHOOL LICENCE
Students only, rained out sports days, before & after school care, special treat.
PUBLIC SCREENING LICENCE
Members of the general public, fundraising. For details on fees contact roadshowppl@roadshow.co.nz or telephone (09) 820 8811
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Velodromes are all about cycling and every delegate will have a chance to show their cycling skill through the roller racing competition
Conference Committee Chair Ben Witheford demonstrates the steepness of the Velodrome track
The Stadium itself is massive and will provide ample space for keynote addresses, break out areas and importantly areas where delegates can gather in smaller groups to work together, chat together and share ideas over morning tea or lunch. Outside there is ample free parking space, an absolute treat if you come from Auckland or Wellington. The adjoining Velodrome is the scene for the fun side of conference including the conference dinner. Delegates will be seated at tables in the middle of the velodrome to be entertained by competitive cycle races, both experts and amateurs. It is hoped those amateurs do some practising before they hit the track which slopes at a staggering 45 degree angle with the floor! Whilst details released so far have been scant, we understand that
there may be an amateur inter-regional competition involving people we know. Like the MC, this may be another ‘wait and see what’s revealed’ affair. Every delegate can also participate in ‘roller racing’ on fixed bikes – the fastest four women and four men will race off during the conference dinner so don’t forget to pack your lycra! It is within the parallel social programme for the conference where that famous ‘Southland hospitality’ will play out. You could be away at dinner every night, enjoying the diversity of the Southern experience as you meet more conference goers and of course the locals. A final note for the oyster lovers of the world: You will not be disappointed!