The Pasifika Wave Patrick Ikiua Mana Otai Faa’ulu Tomuli

The Pasifika Wave

• Patrick Ikiua • Engagement, Participation, Governance

• Mana Otai • Encouraging Pasifika Volunteers in School

Governance

• Fa’aulu Tomuli • Brown Tail – Speckled Middle

Our Proposition

• Pasifika student achievement can be significantly enhanced by expanding the learning environment beyond the classroom and into their homes

• Getting into homes can be done by increasing parent participation in schools

• Parent participation can be encouraged through the involvement of “key influencers” on the Board of Trustees

• Whole School Engagement is the key

• The greater good is the development of leadership & governance skills in minority communities that can improve the delivery of other social outcomes

Engagement – Participation - Governance

Engagement Participation Governance

Participation

Engagement starts

with a conversation

AND being

comfortable about

your Parents getting

amongst the action

Governance Good Governance is

about equitable power,

relationships and

accountability: who has

influence, everyone's

voice is heard, who

makes decisions and how

decision-makers are held

to account.

Its not about the Brown

Duck running the show

but the confidence of

being part of the team

Ministry of Education: Number & Proportion of Schools with a

fair Pasifika representation on the Board of Trustees

Catholic Schools & Pasifika the Ideal Match

Pasifika in Catholic Education the Data

Pasifika students in Catholic Schools 15%

nationally – 29% in Auckland

Pacific achievement is higher in Catholic

Schools

Catholic Schools are the preferred choice

for Pasifika Families

2005 2006 2007 2008

Percent

Private/integrated schools

Pacific

students 79.4 82.0 86.9 88.1

Non-Pacific

students 91.0 91.0 94.7 92.4

State schools

Pacific

students 59.7 64.5 70.9 76.3

Non-Pacific

students 70.3 73.2 79.7 82.3

School leavers with NCEA level 1

2005 2006 2007 2008

Percent

Private/integrated schools

Pacific

students 24.9 26.1 33.4 32.2

Non-Pacific

students 57.6 60.9 65.1 65.9

State schools

Pacific

students 12.1 14.7 17.1 20.3

Non-Pacific

students 30.2 33.7 35.9 40.1

School leavers who fulfilled the requirements to enter university

Catholic Schools & Pasifika the Perfect Match

Strengthening Faith ~ Developing Pride ~ Seeking Excellence

A personal Pacific experience – answering the WHY? Choose a Catholic Education

The importance of Values & Christian Faith In the contest between values/faith & talent – values/faith always wins Catholic Education offers a Value-Laden Faith Based Education

The emphasis on Family Families that learn together grow together A family that prays together stays together

Learning beyond the classroom The holistic approach Community spirit 95% of learning occurs in the home Increasing awareness and capability in Pasifika Homes

It all starts with a Conversation

E

Conversation

Community

Accessibility Symmetry

Transformation

Conversations The school gate – the SJS meeting place for parents and staff

If its not the school gate – then find the meeting place for your parents:

Church, Sports, Community Events

Conversations Conversations need to be led by your Executive Leadership Team

Be visible

Have something to say beyond classroom matters

This means taking an interest in & knowing your families

Listen with intensity

Conversations

Don’t be fearful of the

tough conversations

Pasifika parents can

sometimes appear

intimidating but they

will respect the

authority of your

leadership

Community

Recognise

celebrations that are

important to the

communities that

make up your school

family

Community

Building an engaged

community means the

burden of the hard

stuff is lightened

because there are

many more shoulders

to rest upon…

Community

It’s not just about Pasifika but the inclusion of every one of the diverse cultural & ethnic communities that make up your school

Good engagement works across communities

Community

Get out into the wider community not just your Pacific events

Contribute to your local community activities – so parents have a talking point , a conversation piece that they can share with you & others

Accessibility

Have a sense of humour

– the ability to laugh at yourself and make others laugh with you

breaks down barriers

Pacific humour is large and vibrant

Accessibility

Remember to be good hosts – it doesn’t mean spit roast for every meeting but hospitality is a sign of friendship

Seeing teachers as people works where there is a willingness & enthusiasm of the School and its staff to be accessible

Symmetry Building the leadership &

governance skills of your Parents

through school engagement

means that both the school and

their communities can grow

Inequity can be addressed and

advocacy for access to social

services improved

Parents can be informed

advocates on issues like National

Standards & Charter Schools

Transformation

Parents teaching children

Teachers teaching parents

The classroom just got bigger

Engagement: Leadership & Excellence

• Communication = LISTENING

• We all speak English – but do we understand what is being said!

• Context – Framework – Actions – Outcome • Review Actions to impact on outcomes

• Then review the Framework , possibly breaking the rules, to improve the Actions

• Reflect on the Context of how we think, what we believe & our values how they relate to what we do

• Transformation comes from reflecting on how we think