Swings + Roundabouts Winter 2021

SO YOU DOES YOUR PRACTISING CERTIFICATE EXPIRE SOON? Did you know that you can apply to renew your practising certificate three months in advance online? Find out more here: https:// teachingcouncil.nz/getting-certificated/getting- started/hapori-matatu-online-community/ Things are settling in well and analytics show that it most commonly takes 12 minutes for a teacher to complete their application online. Need to check the status of your practising certificate you can do this with ease, here: https://teachingcouncil.nz/find-a-registered- teacher/ VAPING LEGISLATION On 11 November 2020, changes took effect under the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act that saw the existing prohibition on smoking at schools, kura, early learning services and kōhanga reo extended to include vaping. From 11 May 2021, vaping signage must be displayed, in addition to the existing requirement to display ‘no smoking’ notices. This means that these places must be smoke free and vape free, both indoors and outdoors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need more stickers, you can order through the Smokefree website: https://order. hpa.org.nz/collections/smokefree/products/ no-vaping-smokefree-stickers-available- to-schools-kura-eces-and-kohunga-reo- only?variant=39686264094887 UNTEACH RACISM The Teaching Council realeased content under the topic of Unteach Rascism on 13 May 2021. Have you checked it out yet? This content was created specifically to support teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand to identify, confront and dismantle racism. There are three ways to access and to interact with the content: an online app with modules and activities for each teacher to grow knowledge and understanding to identify and begin to confront racism in education; a website with resources to empower teachers to approach conversations about racism in a productive and safe way, creating opportunities to acknowledge and begin to address racism; and a a safe, teachers- only platform, Hapori Matatū, for you to talk and share experiences or knowledge with colleagues from around the country. Unteach Racism aligns to commitments in Our Code, Our Standards / Ngā Tikanga Matatika, Ngā Paerewa, and an opportunity to engage in a professional learning opportunity for your Professional Growth Cycle, but it is completely optional and is not required for your certification. Racism grows when it goes unnamed and unchallenged. As teachers in a 107,000-strong profession you have an incredible power to lead change to dismantle racism in education. Your impact is profound and enduring in the lives of children and young people. Find more information here: https:// teachingcouncil.nz/resource-centre/unteach- racism/ ERO REPORTS ON SUPPORTING SCIENCE IN ECE The Education Review Office has released a suite of reports on supporting science teaching from early years through to Year 11. These new reports draw on the good work leaders and kaiako are already doing to engage learners with science, to provide practical actions all schools and services can take to improve science teaching. The ERO science reports and guides include: ● ● Science in New Zealand schools and early childhood services - series summary ● ● Science in the Early Years: Early Childhood and Years 1 – 4 ● ● Shining a Light on Science: Good Practice in Early Childhood Services ● ● A guide for kaiako and leaders on supporting science in early childhood ● ● A guide for parents and whānau on supporting science in early childhood They are available on ERO’s website: https://www. ero.govt.nz/publications/ teaching-science-early-years- through-to-year-11/ June 2021 { 18 }