Partnerships
Participation Structure of Seven Oaks School
Seven Oaks is structured on a partnership basis, thus modelling a system which allows the voice of all participants to be heard appropriately without confusing or weakening the ability for wise, timely and responsible decision-making.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for upholding the values and vision of T.H.E. Trust. Amidst the differing views of many people, it is the direction giver and ultimate decision maker. As such, it is also responsible for appropriately consulting with parents, educators and students, when making, and communicating decisions.
As Seven Oaks grows, parent, educator and student partnerships will be developed to allow issues to be raised and debated, then as appropriate, either decided or forwarded to a forum of all parties for discussion and Board decisioning.
Educator Partnership:
The Educator partnership meets regularly to support each other in their professional and personal growth, to ensure uniformity and growth in the school’s educational processes, to implement new practices required by the board and to recommend new ideas, procedures etc to the Board for adoption by the school.
Parent Partnership:
Parents are asked to create a partnership so that they can present their ideas for discussion amongst each other and decide what they would like debated at the school forum. They are also asked to organise things like social gatherings, working bees and car pooling.
Student Partnership:
Students engage in school affairs from a very young age. Starting with classroom agreements at the 6-8yo level and extending to a level where students are able to discuss, agree and advise management and Board of issues they think are relevant and important for them and the school.
Forum:
Chaired by an appointed trust member. 2-3 elected representatives from the board and each partnership are required to attend and to present/debate. Any student, parent or staff member can come along to observe the process and their representatives in action.