Mason Thompson and MacKenzie Butler, ANZAC Service by Adam Griffin | Office of Nicola Grigg MP

From the tumuaki | principal 2023 Term 2 Week 1

Heaps of good stuff plus the info you need about the PPTA strikes. Read on...

Kia ora, nau mai, hoki mai (welcome back)

A big welcome to our new school families and international students: nau mai, tauti mai ki Te Kura Tuarua o Tawera.

Thanks for your understanding with Monday’s staff only day, during which time our teachers worked on understanding the impending changes to the NCEA and NZ Curriculum.

I was proud of our MacKenzie Butler and Mason Thompson representing us at the ANZAC Day service, showing their respect to our service men and women.

Over the break, Ryan Booth was selected to represent NZ in shooting and will compete in Korea later this year. Ryan is a very modest young man and incredibly talented - I look forward to us showing our community’s support for him.

I’m pleased to announce that Mr Dayle Major will be working with us this term, teaching a range of classes, to allow for our interim Senior Leadership Team to have time to function effectively until Mr Peacock starts next term.

The beautiful weather has made for a great start back to the term. Metaphorical clouds are looming though with PPTA teacher strikes: I am really disappointed and frustrated that these look likely to go ahead with students the target of planned disruption. There are actions affecting school management as well but, at this stage, the main thing you need to know is that there is a full strike planned for 9 May (the day of our Careers Expo which we will still run) and rolling strikes where PPTA members refuse to teach certain year levels (set out below). We are relatively lucky with our members and non-members that we can continue to offer a place for students whose families need to attend on those days and that our awesome Careers Department is going to continue with our Expo so that students can gain a better understanding of what’s out there in the world of work and study post-school.

So, on Thursday 4 May, PPTA members (most of our teachers) will not teach Year 11 students; please keep your Year 11 child at home unless they really need to be at school for their health/routines/other major reasons, in which case you will need to let us know by email or phone call and they can be supervised to do study at school.

On Tuesday 9 May, please keep all students at home unless they really need to attend school (as in previous strikes) in which case please let us know. However, with the Careers Expo on that day you are encouraged to come to the Expo with your child, or send them in to our Hall (not for the whole day please as we have insufficient supervision available). Details published separately.

Week 2: Thursday - Year 11

Week 3: Tuesday - FULL STRIKE; Thursday - Year 13

Week 4: Tuesday - Year 9; Wednesday - Year 10

Week 5: Thursday - Year 11

Week 6: Tuesday - Year 13; Thursday - Year 12

Week 7: Tuesday - Year 10; Thursday - Year 9

There is a chance that strikes won’t go ahead but we only get 3 days’ notice so we wanted you to have as much notice as possible and we’ll communicate if they’re called off.

We’re working on the cellphone use survey responses and will make a proposal in the next few weeks.

I’m off to Sydney to look at schools next Wed - Friday with the Canterbury-West Coast Secondary Principals Association. It’s a great learning opportunity for me and worth you knowing that I’m not blowing our tight budgets: the trip is well subsidised, only costing us $500!

Ngā manaakitanga

Andy England


Key dates:

See https://darfield.school.nz/calendar/

Thursday 4 May (TBC): PPTA Year 11 strike (Year 11 stay home unless really need to attend)

Tuesday 9 May: PPTA full strike, Careers Expo (students stay home unless years 7-9 and really need to attend OR to the Careers Expo, preferably accompanied)

Thursday 11 May (TBC): PPTA Year 13 strike (Year 13 stay home unless really need to attend)