Hornsby Trust

We are pleased to present this Annual Report for the Hornsby Pacific Education Trust for 2016.

The Hornsby Trust was set up to provide support for St Andrew’s High School, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, and to enhance the quality of education offered by the school.  This report will detail the ways in which the Trust has tried to fulfil its aims in the past year.

2016 was another busy and successful year at St Andrew’s, and we wish to pay tribute to the principal Mr Mo’unga Maka, his leadership team and the staff. We pay tribute too, to the board and its chair, Dr Sitiveni Halapua. Under their leadership, the school has continued to make progress towards its goals.

HELP FOR STUDENTS

As in previous years, many donors have provided money to pay students’ fees, which makes a huge difference to their families. It also makes a significance difference to the school’s income, as it receives a Government subsidy for each school fee paid. Only a small proportion of students’ families can afford the fees, so the school is really grateful for every one which is paid. It is encouraging to note that in last year’s prize list, twenty of our sponsored students from Year 12 downwards received prizes and awards.

Some donors have provided money for further education for former students of St Andrew’s. In 2016 more students took advantage of automatic entry into Year 13 at Tonga High School, the top Government school. Others went into vocational training (eg teachers’ college, catering and hospitality, building and electrical training, IT etc), and others into further education at Tupou Tertiary Institute. It is a real indication of rising standards at St Andrew’s that more of their school-leavers are undertaking further study. With help from donors, the Trust has been able to pay fees and expenses for some of these young people.

 

A particular development at the school this year has been the introduction of an industrial technology course onsite, in conjunction with the Manukau Institute of Technology. A  number of St Andrew’s students have moved into this stream and done well. All these students have got jobs and apprenticeships for 2017.

Trust supporters have contributed towards the expenses of Posesi Fanua, the former St Andrew’s student who spent 2015 and 2016 on a scholarship at King’s College, Auckland for his final two years of school education. This has been a very significant experience for him, and he plans to further his studies in Tonga this year.

TEACHER DEVELOPMENT

Thanks to financial and organisational support from St Andrew’s Church, Epsom, two of the school’s most committed and promising teachers, Fololeni Pau’u and Mathew Lakai, were able to spend two weeks in June observing at Edgewater College, Pakuranga. They came back inspired by their experience. This professional development opportunity is invaluable for our Tongan teachers, and we are grateful to the H & W Williams Trust for agreeing to fund it in 2017 for another two teachers.

The staff and board benefited again this year from the expertise and commitment of education consultant Dr Kay Hawk, who visited the school in January and September, and worked with teachers, school leadership and board. Over the years that Dr Hawk has been volunteering her time, St Andrew’s has been able to keep up with the latest educational thinking from New Zealand, and to contextualise it for its own use.

PRACTICAL PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN

During 2016 the Trust’s donors and volunteers funded and carried out work to improve security for the Music Room, fixing steel mesh on the windows, and also replaced five of the school’s eight toilets. King’s College students made a good number of new classroom tables and benches, and painted the music room exterior. A local firm installed air-conditioning in the second computer room, with funding from St Andrew’s Epsom.

Work planned for 2017 includes replacement of the school’s eastern boundary fence and the remaining toilets.

BRASS BAND INSTRUMENTS

After an appeal by the Trust for more brass band instruments, a set was offered by the Taupo Concert Band. These were transported to Auckland by volunteers, examined by a volunteer brass expert, repaired by an Auckland firm with funds from several donors, and transported to Tonga by King’s College. The renovated instruments have enabled more young players to join the band, making its future more secure.

OTHER DONATIONS

Other donors provided money for teaching materials for the school, stationery and text books, including a class set of dictionaries. St Vincent de Paul in Hornby donated 12 refurbished computers, for which the school is most grateful.

THE EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT IN TONGA

When we first arrived at St Andrew’s seven years ago, its reputation was low. With help from supporters and charitable trusts, St Andrew’s is now known as one of the more progressive and well-equipped schools, as well as probably the most humane, in Tonga. The principal, Mo’unga Maka, continues to grow in stature and confidence, particularly among other Tongan school principals who recognise his wisdom and go-ahead attitude. We recognise here again the major contribution of Dr Kay Hawk, who has continued to visit the school twice each year to mentor the principal, staff and school board. Trust supporters fund her travel costs.

It would be fair to say that the political situation in Tonga during 2015 and 2016 has not been helpful to education. New educational policies introduced by the government have caused disturbance and dissension in schools and in the education ministry. School principals in particular have had to spend huge amounts of time trying to straighten things out, and to ensure that students do not suffer. At the beginning of 2017 there are distinct signs of improvement, but the damage will take some years to repair.

VISITING GROUPS

Three groups from New Zealand visited St Andrew’s in 2016. All the visits enriched school life, and provided valuable experience to both the visitors and their Tongan hosts. The Trust’s role in these visits is facilitation and organisation. It involves liaising between visitors and school, booking accommodation, arranging the visitors’ programme, and funding the work done by visitors, all to make sure that both visitors and hosts gain the maximum from their visit and the interactions between them.

         ST ANDREW’S, EPSOM

St Andrew’s Epsom is an Anglican parish which has been supporting the school ever since we began our association in 2010. Their visit in April was their second, and this time they brought a group of teachers specifically to run “English week” (an annual event) at the school. The Epsom teachers helped the students to extend their use of English in writing poems and essays, holding debates, presenting speeches and short drama skits. The principal and staff of St Andrew’s found it a really useful visit, and are pleased that the team will be returning to run English week again in April 2017. We acknowledge the sacrifice of time and the expense of their visit, and are grateful for their commitment.

        KING’S COLLEGE

      In July, the school was visited for the fourth year running by a group of 20 students from King’s College, Auckland, accompanied by chaplains Rev Warner Wilder and Onosa’i Auva’a, and teacher Imogen Sadler. They spent most of their time at the school, building classroom furniture, painting and repairing the Music block, helping the St Andrew’s students with reading and writing, as well as running sports activities. A highlight for them all was being billeted with families of St Andrew’s students for part of their stay. As well as visiting the school, King’s College packed and sent over in a container a large amount of equipment, some of which had been contributed by others, and the school was very grateful for this major support project.  

       ONSLOW COLLEGE

In September, a group of 46 students and teachers came from Onslow College, Wellington. This was the largest group we have ever hosted, and provided us with some logistical challenges. However, the visit was hugely successful, and they are even talking about a return visit in a couple of years! This visit came about because in 2014 they hosted the former student and head prefect of St Andrew’s, Kaveinga Vaka, in their music department for a whole year.

After teaching music at St Andrew’s during 2015, Kaveinga spent 2016 continuing his musical study in a new tertiary music course at Tupou Tertiary Institute in Nuku’alofa and helping with the school band. This year he will return to the teaching staff.

Onslow College brought their music, drama and visual arts students and teachers, and the whole of their visit was spent interacting not only with the St Andrew’s students but also in visiting three other Nuku’alofa schools. As well as musical activities led by Onslow teachers Katherine Hodge and Justin Pearce, there were drama performances prepared during the week under drama teacher Brooke Houghton. Throughout the week, visual arts students, supervised by art teacher Naomi Joel, painted a large mural on one of the school walls, which gradually became a whole school project as the week progressed. Onslow brought with them a range of musical instruments and other equipment, which they very generously donated to the school.

 The NZ High Commissioner, Sarah Walsh, and her husband attended the concert, and were clearly impressed by the progress which has been made at the school, and everything that is going on.

 GRANTS, DONATIONS, GIFTS RECEIVED DURING 2016

We acknowledge the following grants and gifts received:

David Ellison Charitable Trust.  Grant to cover security for music room, replacement of school toilets, post school tertiary fees

 Rangi Ruru School, Christchurch. Grant for new chapel furniture and curtains for the sanctuary

        St Andrew’s Church, Epsom. Funding for teacher development, air-conditioning, dictionaries

          Taupo Concert Band for the set of used brass instruments

         King’s College for computers, printers, books, and shipping costs

         Penny Porritt for cooking for the King’s College group, and for writing and illustrating a new English reader for the school

      St Vincent de Paul, Hornby, for 12 refurbished laptop computers

          Trustee Brent Bruce for handling our finances

         Many individual donors for school fees scholarships, tertiary fees scholarships, brass instrument repairs, building materials, travel costs for our education consultant, customs duty on imported goods and sound equipment

 We acknowledge here the great contribution of Brent Bruce, a Trustee and Treasurer of the Trust, who has recently announced his resignation. Brent and his wife Judith have visited St Andrew’s as volunteers twice, and done sterling work ‘on the ground’ as well as giving us most valuable support in the administration of the Trust. 

 We were excited to be present for the unpacking of a most generous gift of classroom furniture from St Paul’s Collegiate, Hamilton. A whole container load of smart new desks and chairs has now taken its place in the St Andrew’s classrooms

FUTURE PLANS

This has been our seventh year of involvement with the school, and we continue to believe in the school, its principal and its students. We are often asked why we keep returning to Tonga. Our reply is simply that we love the students and teachers, and if we can make a difference to one person’s life and future, then we feel we have achieved something.

We are, however, looking for others who can help us in our support for the school. If any of you know anyone who might consider taking over some part of our role, please do let us know.

The Hornsby Trust has a website (www.hornsbytrust.org.nz) and a Facebook page (@hornsbytrust) , and pictures of activities are shown on both.

We extend our thanks to our other Trustees, and to all who support the Trust’s work through prayer, donations and time.

 

Rachel and Simon Tipping

Founding Trustees

February 2017

 

HORNSBY PACIFIC EDUCATION TRUST
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER, 2016
			2016	2015
INCOME
Grant-D Ellison Trust	7000
Grant-St Andrews Church-Epsom	5505		12,505
Donations			17,817	11,030
Interest			11	86
Sundry Income			104
Profit on Foreign Currency Exchange			358	82
			$30,795	$11,198
EXPENSES
Air Conditioning Unit			2,235
Bank Charges			254	250
Band Instrument Repairs			1,222	2,163
Chapel-New Furniture			679	0
Freight			400	0
Educational Aids			210	2,500
Kitchen & Cleaning Costs			404	0
Building Materials-Maintenance			4,594	4,642
Printing, Stationery & Sundries			1,142	232
School Truck Costs			138	265
Sponsored Students			4,086	4,052
Students Tertiary Fees			4,201	3,862
Sundry Expenses				140
Teacher Development			838
Teacher Sponsorship			1,000
Travel Expenses			1,992	2,066
Wages (Local Carpenter)				172
Website			75	249
			$23,470	$20,593
Surplus/(Deficit)			$7,325.00	-$9,395.00
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2015
			2016	2015
Current Assets
ANZ Bank - New Zealand Account			10,116	2,089
ANZ Bank - Tonga Account			1,411	2,113
			$11,527	$4,202
Trustees Equity
Balance 1 January 2016			4,202	13,597
Deficit/Surplus for the Year			7,325	-9,395
Balance 31 December,2016			$11,527	$4,202
HORNSBY PACIFIC EDUCATION TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER, 2016.
1. Basis of Preparation
The Trust has elected to apply Public Benefit Entity Simple Format
Reporting -Cash (Not-For-Profit) on the basis that it does not have public
accountability and has total expenses less than $125,000
These Reports are prepared under the assumption that the entity will
continue to operate in the foreseeable future.
2. Measurement Base
The accounting principles recognised as appropriate for the measurement and reporting
of earnings and financial position on an historical cost basis are followed by the entity.
3. Specific Accounting Policies
The following Specific Accounting policies which materially affect the measurement of
financial performance and financial position have been applied.
Differential Reporting
The Reporting Entity qualifies for Differential Reporting exemptions under the Framework
for Differential Reporting as it has:
*   No Public accountability
*   At balance date all owners are members of the governing body;  or
*   The entity is not large
All differential reporting exemptions have been applied.
Goods and Services Tax
The Trust is not registered for Goods and Services Tax.
These financial statements have been prepared on a Goods and Services inclusive basis.
Income Taxation
In line with current taxation legislation, income generated by the Trust is exempt from
Income Tax.   Accordingly, no provision for taxation has been made in the Financial
Statements.
Audit
The Financial Statements have not been audited.
Foreign Currency
The Tongan bank account transactions have been converted to New Zealand
dollars using the average conversion rate over the period.