ICTPD+Progress

**Email Correspondence**

Hi Rochelle!

What would be the next step? Would we be applying for a 2011 cluster?

Cheers,

Paul ---
 * From:** Peter Barker [mailto:principals@gisbornecentral.school.nz]
 * Sent:** Wednesday, 24 March 2010 8:14 a.m.
 * To:** 'Makaraka School Principal'
 * Cc:** 'James Murray'; Billie-jean@kaiti.schoolzone.net.nz
 * Subject:** RE:

Hi Paul

The term has gone well thanks and the conference was fantastic. Had a parent info evening last night about assessment, reporting and national standards – our community is as confused about the standards as we are!

Dead keen to be part of an ICTPD Cluster. I made contact with Tessa Gray from Core Ed and she was looking the whole ICTPD cluster initiative from the MoE perspective. James Murray at St Marys and Billie-Jean Potaka-Ayton at Kaiti would be in as well. Our 4 schools could well be a nice wee cluster/

I know Rochelle (Rocky) well. She worked as a facilitator in my last ICTPD Cluster, Waimarino in Tauranga. Just bso happens my wife is good friends with her sister too!

Being a Tauranga person, I am pretty sure James knows her too. Judi Buckley who was our Waimarino Cluster leader has offered her help as well.

So if we take that as a yes, what do you reckon our next step would be?

Cheers Peter 
 * From:** Makaraka School Principal [mailto:paul@makaraka.schoolzone.net.nz]
 * Sent:** Tuesday, 23 March 2010 8:36 p.m.
 * To:** 'Peter Barker'
 * Subject:**

Hi Peter!

I hope the term is going well. How did the ICT conference go?

On Monday I had Rochelle Jensen (ICT advisor) help me with formulating an e-maturity strategic plan. This was a successful process and I look forward to putting this into practice.

She mentioned that she would be more than happy to assist with, and guide, a ICT PD cluster initiative application. Are you interested in being part of such an initiative?

Regards,

Paul

Hi Paul and Peter, I made contact with Neil Melhuish ( who leads the ICTPD project at MOE) and asked him if there were likely to be more ICTPD clusters made available next year and when this info. would be available. His response was not very informative : “An announcement on the plans for a 2011 programme programme will be made through the usual channels of the EdGazette, LIstservs and TKI ICT kete”. This response probably reflects the uncertainty all round at the MOE at present!

My advice though is to assume that there will be further clusters and to base our thinking around last year’s process( quite different from previous year). I anticipate some minor changes to the application process to increasingly reflect national priorities. So in my view first steps are to: a) Familiarise yourself with the project info. especially the attachments on this site: [] b) Identify your possible cluster. I assume you will be applying under category c. c) Talk to as many people as you can re past cluster – vision and operation d) Hold a preliminary meeting with key personnel from your cluster as the first step in developing cluster concept. Share related info. and skype people in to discuss their cluster experiences. Start to formulate a vision and the bones of a proposal.

Hi Paul and Peter, Great to see that you are already ‘scoping’ a potential cluster. I think next steps would include: a) Familiarising yourself with the project info. especially the attachments on this site: [] I assume you will be applying under category c. b) Talk to as many people as you can re past cluster – vision and operation. Peter, Judi Buckley and Tessa Gray would be worth having a chat to. c) Hold a preliminary meeting with key personnel from your cluster as the first step in developing cluster concept. Share related info. and skype people in to discuss their cluster experiences. Start to formulate a vision and the bones of a proposal using the template from the above site. I have some ‘old’ applications that I could share with you. Peter, you will probably have the Waimarino original app. as well J

Hope this helps. Keep in touch. Rocky

Hi Peter! Apologies for the delay in my response. I’ve started the term in the classroom as I’m on a Hamilton PD initiative next week. I also wanted to catch up with Rocky before discussing future cluster ideas and caught up with her not long after you had spoken. My discussion with Rocky brought up the following key points in relation to a potentially successful cluster __application__:  Obviously we all want what’s best for our own schools. The key is to make the obvious links. I am trying to make links between ICT and the ‘Inquiry’ ideal through a school wide “Inquiry Learning’ model and also practices that promote and enhance ‘Teaching as Inquiry’. I think we can all make the link. I’m basing the potential schools involved in this cluster on previous correspondence and reflection with you. I think, while not necessarily purposely, there is a hierarchy within Gisborne Schools. It would be nice to mix it up with the existing ‘tight five’ cluster. All of these principals are great colleagues, but it would be good to challenge the hierarchy. Would St Mary’s and Kaiti be interested? The next step is a meeting as a potential cluster. I’m in Hamilton from this Sunday to Thursday Wk 2 but can meet either this Friday (After 3.30) or next Friday and beyond. I value the potential of this cluster so will use relievers to make these initial meetings work. What are your thoughts Rochelle on where to next? I look forward to hearing from you both. Again, apologies for the delay in response. Regards, Paul
 * The importance of previous clusters that the applying schools have been involved together. Obviously the GATE cluster is an obvious link between Central, Makaraka and St Mary’s. Also the link between your own school, St Mary’s and Kaiti, through your __new__ principal connections, is also an important and beneficial link to emphasise. The GATE cluster is coming to an end but the history is successful and the time is right to emphasise the success of this cluster.
 * There needs to be within the application an obvious focus on having middle management leadership. In talking to Rocky you are also aiming to involve a staff member in the Blended Professional Learning Programme. It sounds very good as it links effectively with the NZC inquiry approach and shows effective staff infrastructure and succession.
 * Looking at TKI we have a range of decile schools ranging between your Decile 7, our Decile 5, St Mary’s Decile 5 and Kaiti’s Decile 1.

Hi Paul I have been having a look at this ICTPD stuff from Rocky. May well be a good idea for us to have a chat sooner rather than later so we can get the ball rolling. I know you have teaching commitments, so what sort of time would suit if you think a chat is a good idea? Thanks Peter