Long time between posts
I haven't managed to be a regular blogger at all over the last year and I have missed the forum for my personal reflections on my world and in particular on my roles in the Cromwell Community. From mid-year 2017 when I posted my last blog post things have changed quite a bit for me and I find myself in a new and challenging role as Principal of Goldfields Primary School. The second half of 2017 was about working hard to achieve my goal of taking on a Principalship and then hunkering down and learning as an apprentice to Mrs Booth before her well-earned retirement. That effectively meant a more private face for many aspects of my life.
The issues being faced by our community board also shifted at this point as the realisation that we really needed to look at the future and start some rigorous strategic thinking dawned on us as public perception was very much that we were not achieving much for our community. We now find ourselves on the verge of our community taking some future focused direction around our public spaces, community amenities and civic buildings. I am excited about the possibilities of the master plan process and where it will take us. I am looking forward to more engagement with our community around a future for our town that we can all be proud of.
Being on the Community Board has been a big learning curve. It has been challenging, thought provoking and rewarding as well as frustrating and painful at times. Getting to grips with the true meaning of governance and where the responsibilities and delegations of our board lie has been a large part of my new learning. Some of this is highly transferrable to my professional role as Principal on a Board of Trustees and has helped me to reflect on my role as manager of the day-to-day running of a school alongside a governance body making strategic decisions that provide the framework and direction for the work of the organisation.
I know there is a mixture of excitement and anxiety about the proposed residential developments on the outskirts of Cromwell and how these areas will change the face of our town. Much of this decision making sits well outside the delegations of our Community Board to make decisions about. We all have to trust in the consents and planning procedures, the rules in the district plan and the resource management act and to take the opportunities for voices to be heard through any consultation or public notifications.
On that note - there is less than a week to complete the online form for consultation on the Central Otago District Council 10 year plan. The 10 for 10 campaign has been successful in raising the profile of this consultation process - but we still need to ensure engagement rather than apathy have the last say. Follow the link to the CODC website to find all the information you need to have your say.
So I have made it through Term 1 of Principalship - rewarded by a nasty head cold for the first week of the holidays. I managed to drag myself back off the sofa by the end of last week and I'm well and truly back at work this week making sure I have all my ducks in a row for Term 2. I feel very privileged to be in this role in the Cromwell Community and I am loving it. The Cromwell education community is also on the verge of new directions and collaboration with the inception of our Community of Learners - Te Kahui Ako o nga Awanui. Our three schools are working in close collaboration with our Early Learning Centres - coming together to make sure we provide the best outcomes for all children in our community. It is great to see these three sectors of education coming together, finding common understandings and working in collaboration.
Right, well enough navel gazing - I need to get back on with some real work. I might catch you at the Cromwell ANZAC service tomorrow. I will be there with two hats on - supporting my school whānau group leaders and representing the Cromwell Community Board - both roles I take seriously and both organisations that I represent with pride.
The issues being faced by our community board also shifted at this point as the realisation that we really needed to look at the future and start some rigorous strategic thinking dawned on us as public perception was very much that we were not achieving much for our community. We now find ourselves on the verge of our community taking some future focused direction around our public spaces, community amenities and civic buildings. I am excited about the possibilities of the master plan process and where it will take us. I am looking forward to more engagement with our community around a future for our town that we can all be proud of.
Being on the Community Board has been a big learning curve. It has been challenging, thought provoking and rewarding as well as frustrating and painful at times. Getting to grips with the true meaning of governance and where the responsibilities and delegations of our board lie has been a large part of my new learning. Some of this is highly transferrable to my professional role as Principal on a Board of Trustees and has helped me to reflect on my role as manager of the day-to-day running of a school alongside a governance body making strategic decisions that provide the framework and direction for the work of the organisation.
I know there is a mixture of excitement and anxiety about the proposed residential developments on the outskirts of Cromwell and how these areas will change the face of our town. Much of this decision making sits well outside the delegations of our Community Board to make decisions about. We all have to trust in the consents and planning procedures, the rules in the district plan and the resource management act and to take the opportunities for voices to be heard through any consultation or public notifications.
On that note - there is less than a week to complete the online form for consultation on the Central Otago District Council 10 year plan. The 10 for 10 campaign has been successful in raising the profile of this consultation process - but we still need to ensure engagement rather than apathy have the last say. Follow the link to the CODC website to find all the information you need to have your say.
So I have made it through Term 1 of Principalship - rewarded by a nasty head cold for the first week of the holidays. I managed to drag myself back off the sofa by the end of last week and I'm well and truly back at work this week making sure I have all my ducks in a row for Term 2. I feel very privileged to be in this role in the Cromwell Community and I am loving it. The Cromwell education community is also on the verge of new directions and collaboration with the inception of our Community of Learners - Te Kahui Ako o nga Awanui. Our three schools are working in close collaboration with our Early Learning Centres - coming together to make sure we provide the best outcomes for all children in our community. It is great to see these three sectors of education coming together, finding common understandings and working in collaboration.
Right, well enough navel gazing - I need to get back on with some real work. I might catch you at the Cromwell ANZAC service tomorrow. I will be there with two hats on - supporting my school whānau group leaders and representing the Cromwell Community Board - both roles I take seriously and both organisations that I represent with pride.
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