The Area School teachers have voted to join their collegues in strike action, so the school will be CLOSED for instruction on Wednesday 29th May 2019 and there will be no supervision.

Tēna koe Parent/Caregiver

Re: Strike on 29 May 2019

Teachers want the best for their students. We are motivated by bringing out the best in our students. We want them to leave school with the skills, confidence, values and knowledge that will allow them to make the most of every opportunity in life.

It’s a big role, and one that carries with it a duty of care and responsibility. Primary and secondary teachers play an important role in making New Zealand a better place for all of us to live and grow. Teachers are asking for your support.

After a decade of under-funding and neglect, schools around the country are experiencing an unprecedented shortage of teachers. Teachers are struggling with over-assessment, red tape and box-ticking, and children are missing out on the one-on-one time they need with their teachers.

Jacinda Ardern’s government has an opportunity to transform the lives of children across the country by making teaching once more a meaningful and respected career for people to pursue.

That’s why teachers are so disappointed it has come to this. We want to work with the government to agree solutions that will allow us to bring out the best for students, teachers, schools, whānau and communities.

Going on strike is a last resort for us and we wish we didn’t have to do it. We would much rather be working with students in our classrooms.

Please support us as we urge Ms Ardern and her government to do the right thing and come up with the funding so that our students have the educational opportunities that they need and deserve, with great, well-trained and well supported teachers to provide those opportunities.

You can sign up for updates and find out ways you can support teachers at bringoutthebest.nz.

Ngā mihi nui

Blair Sheet and Glenys Hanley