Info on Teacher Collective Agreement Negotiations (Strike), the holidays and some positive feedback.

Teacher Unrest

Your children deserve the very best people NZ has to offer as their teachers. Professor John Hattie’s world leading ‘Visible Learning Research’ concluded that the next biggest effect on a child’s learning achievement, after their personal disposition towards learning, is the quality of the teacher. It is with some dismay that we read the Ministry of Education’s offer of settlement for the Teachers Collective Agreement contract. It would appear that the Government has yet to recognise the urgency of investing in better pay, more staffing and resourcing for schools. Unsurprisingly teachers have requested of their union, NZEI, that the strongest message possible is given to the government with a call for strike action on the 15th August. We believe New Zealand is facing a crisis in education, because of the teaching shortage, a growing school roll and a significant decline in numbers entering the profession.

Teachers are asking for:

• release time, to allow them time to complete a huge range of complex tasks that we require of them, that don’t involve interacting with children. The offer is less than 15 minutes increase non contact time per teacher per week, an insult.

• better resourcing for children with additional learning needs;

• and a salary increase that gives an appropriate level of recognition to the important role teachers play in our society, and therefore attract the very best people into the profession.

With only 12 weeks until my retirement I personally have nothing to gain, but I am determined to do my bit to ensure your children and future generations continue to have a world leading primary education.

Holidays

The next two weeks offer our teachers and your children a chance to rest and recharge. For those of you who are taking annual leave to look after your children, enjoy them to the max. All too soon they’ll be grown up and you’ll be wondering where the years have gone. I have found lots of fresh air and active play is about the best tonic, backed up by a good book and restricted screen time. Here’s hoping for two fine weeks. Safe travels for those who are leaving town, or heading overseas, especially our eight Year 8 intrepid travellers who are heading to Beijing and Changsha in China to attend a Panda Camp. The two teachers accompanying them, Mrs Edwards and Miss Fraser are giving up their school holidays to teach in Changsha. The food and accommodation for all travellers is paid for by the One World Ambassador Programme.

Positive Feedback

Our Year 5 and 6 have received two accolades in the last week. Firstly from one of our Kelly Sports coordinators who accompanied the three volleyball team to the Canterbury tournament couldn’t believe the level of sportsmanship shown and how well they worked as teams encouraging each other and acknowledging good play. This morning I was cc'ed into an email from Selwyn Sports: ‘Good morning Chelsea, a number of sports providers from this terms winter sport have commented on how respectful and well mannered the students from Halswell Primary have been. Well done and thank you.’