Kia ora
When you are looking to make a positive change that will benefit either yourself or other people, following the correct process is always going to help your cause. Having a strong student voice in a school reflects a healthy and proactive student body who are confident in themselves, know what they want and are working towards achieving it.
The first petition I received involved creating an electric club to ensure that all of the lights and other electrical items at school are turned off when they are not being used. This was shortly followed by (in no particular order) requests to:
- Climb the library tree
- Put a swing on the library tree
- Create a bike track
- Increase the size of the gardens
- Improve the quality of the toilet paper
- Buy the school horses that we can ride
- Lunchtime sports club
With 126 signatures (to be fair including my own) the toilet paper petition was immediately the most compelling. Wilbur, Tom and Nixon were invited to a meeting with John, our property manager and myself. They presented their petition and the case for an upgrade from 1 to 2 ply paper for the students. We sat and listened to their case and were impressed.
John is nothing if not prepared. He had contacted our supplier and had all the facts. There are 1755 sheets on a 1 ply roll and 865 on a 2 ply. They cost exactly the same and are the same size. With thicker paper you actually use less (who would have known that) as the user has greater confidence in the product doing the job well.
To be perfectly honest I had been here 6 weeks at this stage and never in my wildest dreams imagined I would be having this conversation! It turns out this job is much more than just about the curriculum and organising the budget.
The boys proposed a blind test where we would change some paper around the school. They then completed a survey and presented us with their results. Not only did they have graphs and extensive data, but also a compelling rap explaining their case.
To cut a long story short John has returned our unopened boxes of 1 ply paper. By Term 2 all dispensers will be stocked with the new and improved product. Wilbur, Nixon and Tom can be confident they have made a positive difference for all of the students in the school today, and going forward, future generations of Long Bay Primary students.
It is safe to say a Long Bay Primary Equestrian Centre is not on the cards anytime soon, however we have gone to look at the horses in the field bordering the school which kept everyone happy for a few minutes. By following the right process the boys showed just what could be achieved in a short time. Wheels Day is coming up which will keep the bike track at bay for a while longer, and the library tree is still a work in progress.
A school where the students have a voice, can take ownership of their learning and are able to make choices that benefit themselves is a healthy one.
Bring on the next list of signatures that slide under my door. I just have no idea what is coming next, but know that by following a process we might just be able to achieve something great.
Rob
Tumuaki/Principal
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