Our cover stars this week are all from Room 6. They’re out enjoying reading in the sunshine underneath the new Shade Umbrellas that have been donated by the PTA. Thank you very much PTA! We love them!

Unfortunately the Primary Teacher contract negotiations with the Government haven’t yet been resolved and Teachers and Principals (via the NZEI union) have announced another one day strike on Thursday 15th November. As a school we are certainly aware and concerned about the disruption that this will cause, as the school will need to be closed. However as a profession we feel strongly that a stand now needs to be made. Firstly, this is not about pay but about the quality of education that your child receives. There is a serious crisis occurring in Education. We have teachers leaving the profession in droves; a large percentage of our workforce about to retire (with others postponing retirement), lessening numbers of people entering training and graduates leaving the job in the first 5 years of teaching. We call this the 40% problem.

Significant groups of teachers are leaving in the first 5 years of teaching

40% of teachers are due to retire in the next 10 years

40% less teachers are being trained

We feel strongly that we need to be encouraging more people into the profession, and ensuring that those already in the profession feel supported valued and want to stay. We are hoping that families and whanau will support teachers in this action.

I’m really looking forward to the school disco this Friday evening! Woohooo! Good times for all.

Congratulations to all those who received Principal Awards at our assembly last week.

Steve Zonnevylle

Principal

Gleniti School

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