Principals Page

As a specialist centre of excellence van Asch Deaf Education Centre provides a wide range of high quality education related services for deaf and hearing-impaired children, their families and their teachers throughout a large geographic area. The van Asch site in Sumner is the hub of this excellence and the centre from which the services are administered.

2009 has seen a number of significant changes in the way that some of our services are organised. These changes were planned and implemented by the Board of Trustees because they were seen as ways in which the services could be made to work even more effectively for the benefit of the students and families we are responsible to.

Refinements have been made to the processes around children accessing regional teaching services to further ensure that these are allocated fairly and equitably. Better quality information on students' achievements and needs is now used as a basis for determining who should receive this service.

The satellite class for deaf and hearing-impaired students at Hagley Community College was in the final stages of planning this time last year. This got under way fully at the start of 2009. The satellite provision significantly extends the range of curriculum choices available to our students and those who have been in this programme this year have taken full advantage of the learning opportunities available and have experience great success.

Lead teacher positions in the regional teaching service have been further established throughout 2009. Substantial professional development for the lead teachers during the year has provided them with a firm understanding of the role of supporting teachers so the programmes they provide to students bring about increased success.

Reorganisation of the staffing of the residential service has been in progress this year and a new structure is in place to commence at the start of 2010. The changes in this area have been made in order to further enhance the learning opportunities available for residential students and their overall safety.

Significant work has been done around implementing the new New Zealand Curriculum throughout van Asch student learning programmes. This has included consultation with our immediate community to gain views on the vision and values that are most important as a basis for setting the direction of programmes that we provide.

These major areas of work have been progressed while the essential day to day activities of staff work for students has been going on. Staff have applied their usual high standards to their work while also evaluating and contributing to the changes outlined above.

I sincerely thank all staff who have positively supported these change processes and who have shared the determination to ensure that the resources we are all responsible for are used with maximum effectiveness to enhance learning outcomes for deaf and hearing-impaired children. Thank you to all members of the Board of Trustees for the support to staff and for setting the direction that has been followed over 2009.

There are many people in our wider community whose lives have been touched in some way by Michael Parsons. Sadly Mike passed away recently. His stature in deaf education in New Zealand is unsurpassed. He contributed a huge amount to developments to improve services for deaf children and adults through his teaching, personal expertise and strong advocacy. Many would also wish to acknowledge Mike's part in influencing their career choices and directions. Mike's wisdom and friendship will be greatly missed.

My best wishes to everyone in our community for a happy and safe holiday season.

Kind regards

Barry Newcombe PhD
Principal
van Asch Deaf Education Centre