Unfortunately the industrial dispute between the Ministry of Education and the PPTA has yet to be resolved. The secondary teachers’ collective agreement expired last June. The Ministry’s only offer was rejected by the PPTA last October. The PPTA has announced a programme of increased industrial action in Term 2.

A regional (South Island) strike has been called for Tuesday 9 May. As most teaching staff at our school are members of the PPTA, we will be unable to staff classes and will be closed on the day of the proposed regional strike, Tuesday 9 May.

“Rostering home” will occur nationally in Term 2. This means students in specified year levels will not be taught or supervised by PPTA members on specified days. We understand these are the proposed “rostering home” days:

Proposed Dates & Year Levels being rostered home in Term 2

Thu 4 May = Year 11

Tue 9 May = Year 12 (also the day of the proposed regional strike)

Thu 11 May = Year 13

Tue 16 May = Year 9  

Wed 17 May = Year 10

Thu 25 May = Year 11

Tue 30 May = Year 13

Thu 1 June = Year 12

Tue 6 Jun = Year 10

Thu 8 Jun = Year 9

We ask that you keep your children at home on the relevant “rostering home” days shown above. We do not have the staffing capacity to supervise the named year levels on the “rostering home” days.

Year levels who are not “rostered home” on a given day will attend classes as usual.

Please note that on the regional strike day and whilst “rostered home” all students will be able to access their class work as usual, via Google Classroom.

I want to acknowledge the inconvenience this proposed industrial action is likely to cause you and your family. I hope a resolution is found before the industrial action escalates next term.

Bruce Kearney

Principal