You may be aware of the nationwide crisis in recruiting and retaining teachers.

While there are many more children coming into the school system, there are not enough new teachers being trained. Urgent and significant changes are needed to ensure that the teaching profession can attract the people it needs and to ensure class sizes do not start to increase.

On 26 June the teachers from this school will be attending a NZEI Te Riu Roa paid union meeting regarding the Kua Tae Te Wā - It’s Time campaign. The campaign aims to free teachers to teach and principals to lead, by getting the additional support and staff that schools need. The meetings will allow our teachers to discuss how the Ministry of Education has responded to changes that the union is seeking.

Our teaching staff are members of NZEI and legally entitled to attend this meeting. The teachers will be leaving school on 26 June, to attend their paid union meeting which starts at 2pm.

I strongly encourage parents to make arrangements to pick their child(ren) up from school by 1.30pm on 26 June. If you are unable to pick your children up then, please advise us so that your children can be supervised until 3pm.

I appreciate that this creates some inconvenience for families. However, I encourage you to support your teachers as they strive to achieve the changes which will safeguard quality education for all children and ensure we make teaching an attractive profession for graduates.

Anyone who may need help with arrangements should contact the office.