School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa
Awards Recipients 2011
SLANZA encourages and rewards excellence in school libraries, recognising the success and achievement of those working in and with school libraries, with a series of annual awards.
These are the recipients of the 2011awards:
- Award of merit for information literacy
- Not awarded in 2011
- Award of merit for literacy and enjoyment of reading
- Julia Smith of
Kerikeri High School
Julia receives this award for the creation and development of the Kerikeri High School Cover to Cover blog. This blog aims to encourage and promote reading and to connect Kerikeri High School readers with books and the wider reading community. Julia has developed and maintained this blog and its readership extends beyond the school library's immediate clients to a national and international audience.
- Award of merit for promotion
- Jennifer Nicholas of
Samuel Marsden Collegiate School
Jennifer spreads a love of books and literature to all, but especially with the Marsden School family. When not reviewing or promoting the latest and the best books available she brings her wide experience and knowledge to staff and parents supporting the curriculum throughout the School. Ideas are brainstormed, skills taught, trips enjoyed, and the path between schools eased by her welcoming attitude. Jennifer is always prepared to experiment and to tackle to new challenges and technologies to create life-long learners and readers of her students. Most precious is her sense of humour, her collegial spirit and her willingness to share her passion for reading.
- Wendy Ballard
previously of Greenpark Primary School
Wendy is the creator of www.infoblitz.co.nz, an educational website directory for ‘Kiwi kids’ and their educators, which ‘went live’ (20 July 2009) to great acclaim from her target audience. Wendy’s website has now reached over half a million ‘hits’, from over 50 countries, and positive feedback on infoblitz continues to roll in. Infoblitz addresses many of the requirements of the New Zealand curriculum, especially helping students to become independent and effective users of the information landscape. Further, Wendy’s infoblitz blog connects her learners with books; her library colleagues with useful ‘library-ana’ (displays, book talks; useful websites…); and teachers with great resources. Infoblitz certainly helps towards the New Zealand Ministry of Education’s stated intention to develop ‘confident, connected, actively involved lifelong learners’, as well as achieving ‘greater recognition of school libraries to their client group’.
- Award of merit for research
- Not awarded in 2011
- Award of merit for library assistant
- Not awarded in 2011
- Principal's awards
- Ross Sinclair of Hutt
Valley High School
Ross is extremely supportive of continuous library developments at Hutt Valley High School. For example, he accepted the five-year library development plan and supported its presentation to the Board of Trustees recently.
Ross’s support for the library is typical of his leadership style – quiet, understated determination that is not offensive or aggressive, but that demonstrates clear resolve to achieve high standards. This is done by employing well-qualified library staff, encouraging professional development, supporting the need for resources, involving library staff in school-wide matters and fostering high morale.
- John Cubitt of
Pekerau School, in Te Awamutu
John has been instrumental in the establishment of a new, dedicated Learning Resource Centre at the school (2009). His vision was to make this library the hub of teaching and learning activity for the school. He involved a wide range of stakeholders in this process and has achieved the school’s ‘ideal’ plan for the Centre, incorporating a library, ICT classroom, teacher resource space, and even a ‘green-screen’ audio-visual studio within this student-centred facility.
John recognizes the value of having quality staff to maximize the connections between the school’s resource base and curriculum delivery and he is very supportive of the Library Team. The Learning Resource Centre is staffed by a full-time Library Manager and a part-time Assistant. In recognition of their key role in the school, John supports their continuing professional development along with all staff.
- Certificate of
appreciation
This award is given to all retiring members of the National Executive, Regional Chairs, and Conference Committee members of SLANZA to formally recognise their contribution. An additional award is made to St Cuthberts College in recognition for their support of SLANZA and school libraries in New Zealand. - 2011 Auckland Conference Committee
- Kaaren Hirst (Co-Convenor)
- Fiona Mackie (Co-Convenor)
- John Fowler
- Karen Monk
- Karen Leahy
- Bharathi Char
- Anne Rolinson Secretary
- Anthea Hamlet
- Veronica McLeod
- Maree Pavletich (Treasurer)
- Karon Horne
- Jackie McCormick
- Retiring National Executive and Regional Chairs
- NLNZ representative: Dyane Hosler
- Te Tai Tokerau: Di Eastwood
- Auckland: Sarah Fordyce, Maree Pavletich
- Waikato/BoP: Cynthia Frankcombe, Wendy Ballard
- Central: Pat Bellhouse
- Aoraki: Kim Slack
- Otago: Bridget Schaumann
- Past President: Joyce Richards - plus service to NE (6 years in total)
- Outgoing President: Senga White
- Certificate of recognition
- Nova Gibson of Massey
Primary School
Nova has been a huge catalyst in her resource-raising efforts in assisting underprivileged schools and their libraries to get up and running. She has worked with several schools in this manner across Auckland. On top of this Nova has taken resources into schools in Bangladesh,( too) and been nominated as a Good Sort for TVOne.
- Bridget Schaumann
of Kings High School
This award recognises her tireless effort in initiating, developing, and bringing to fruition, (and ongoing editing of) the SLANZA collaborative wiki that has and will continue to be a wonderful resource for all school librarians.
Bridget continues the editing of the wiki, and has overseen the redevelopment of the official SLANZA website to the very professional level that is a credit to SLANZA.
- Miriam Tuohy of
Russell Street School
This award recognises her tireless effort in initiating, developing, bringing to fruition, (and ongoing editing of) the SLANZA collaborative wiki that has and will continue to be a wonderful resource for all school librarians.
Miriam continues to edit the wiki and has also worked on the redevelopment of the official SLANZA website to the very professional level that is a credit to SLANZA.
