Frequently Asked Questions
As a business leader, what can I contribute?
The greatest asset you can bring to our schools is YOU! Your unique background and enthusiasm can make a difference. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking.
The greatest asset you can bring to our schools is YOU! Your unique background and enthusiasm can make a difference. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking.
- Help to develop strong staff leadership or leadership or mentoring for students.
- Offer students insight into career options and help to prepare them for the workforce by developing real-life learning opportunities.
- Assist with the development of creative initiatives to increase the level of parental involvement.
- Address issues around a school’s environment like upgrading the library, or building a new gym.
- Offer strategic marketing and communications advice.
- Provide advice on financial management and planning.
- Assist with ideas about working with technology in the classroom.
I’m a Principal, why should I get involved?
Establishing a good relationship with a business can bring many benefits to your school including new experiences, new ideas and role models. Peer to peer discussions add great value and the whole school community can benefit.
Having a business leader visit your school gives you an opportunity to:
Establishing a good relationship with a business can bring many benefits to your school including new experiences, new ideas and role models. Peer to peer discussions add great value and the whole school community can benefit.
Having a business leader visit your school gives you an opportunity to:
- Showcase education by showing business leaders how schools actually work.
- Students can show their work and ask questions.
- Get help with professional development for you or your staff.
- Teaching staff can incorporate the PFAD’s industry or skills into the curriculum.
- An opportunity to profile your school.
What happens on the Day?
Typically, the working school day starts at 8.30am. Some example activities are:
Typically, the working school day starts at 8.30am. Some example activities are:
- Addressing an assembly.
- Tour of the school.
- Working lunch with teachers.
- Teaching a class related to the PFAD’s specialist knowledge.
- Meeting with senior students or school Trustees.
- Discussing strategic issues and leadership styles.
The civic function at the end of the day is a great place to chat to other business leaders about their own experience of the day. Many previous participants have found this session to be an informative, fun and valuable way to end the day.
When will I know who I’m matched with?
Because we try and match PFADs with schools that have complementary needs and skills, we begin the matching process when registrations are almost complete.
You will get an email or letter from COMET in early August. This will allow you enough time to make contact with your PFAD or Principal and make the appropriate arrangements for the day.
Because we try and match PFADs with schools that have complementary needs and skills, we begin the matching process when registrations are almost complete.
You will get an email or letter from COMET in early August. This will allow you enough time to make contact with your PFAD or Principal and make the appropriate arrangements for the day.
Does it cost anything?
Nothing except your time. We ask PFADs to block out the entire day in their diary. Principals put a lot of effort into hosting your visit and you are expected to remain at school for the whole day. We cannot be responsible if you end up in detention!
Nothing except your time. We ask PFADs to block out the entire day in their diary. Principals put a lot of effort into hosting your visit and you are expected to remain at school for the whole day. We cannot be responsible if you end up in detention!
What else do I need to know?
Once you have registered, COMET will partner you with a school or business. We will send you the contact details of your Principal or PFAD and together you should work to find a common area where the PFAD can provide some support or assistance and start to develop an itinerary for the visit.
At a later date, a reciprocal visit by the Principal to the PFAD’s workplace provides a great opportunity for Principals to see the business world in action. By visiting a business, Principals can gain a unique perspective on leadership, management and operations, which can then be applied in their school.
Once you have registered, COMET will partner you with a school or business. We will send you the contact details of your Principal or PFAD and together you should work to find a common area where the PFAD can provide some support or assistance and start to develop an itinerary for the visit.
At a later date, a reciprocal visit by the Principal to the PFAD’s workplace provides a great opportunity for Principals to see the business world in action. By visiting a business, Principals can gain a unique perspective on leadership, management and operations, which can then be applied in their school.
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This year we are introducing the theme of Numeracy. We encourage you to develop your itinerary around this theme. Some ideas to think about include:
- Visiting a maths class.
- Talking about data and statistics.
- How is numeracy measured in schools?
- Show how students are taught to apply numeracy.
- How is numeracy applied in the workplace?
- What level of numeracy is needed in the PFAD’s organisation?
COMET is an Education Trust providing advocacy and leadership in education for Manukau City. We brought the Principal for a Day programme from New York to New Zealand in 2002. You can read more about our work on the COMET website. From October 1st 2010, COMET will continue its work and report to the new Auckland Council.
Visit the COMET website here >>