Attitudes and culture around Wakari School at present have never been better. Staff and learners are thriving and the term promises to be a positive one.

Congratulations to Lucy Newton on winning a permanent position at Anderson's Bay School. Lucy has been a highly valued staff member and a much-loved teacher here at Wakari. Congratulations also to Gemma Matsopoulos who will be remaining in the New Entrant/Year 1 hub for 2023, a neat addition to the team. 

Thank you for the ongoing support across a plethora of recent activities. Camp once again was an enormous success. Well done to Mr Waddell and the senior syndicate teachers. They were generously supported by an industrious and fun-loving group of parents that added to the fabric of the experience.

Athletics training is underway, congratulations to the 35 children who have qualified for the North Zone sports due to take place next Tuesday (postponement day Thursday). If children make a final at this event they will qualify for the Otago Athletic Champs due to take place on the 15th of November. 

Teachers in our school will be attending paid union meetings in the weeks of 14-25 November to discuss the progress of negotiations for their collective employment agreements, the proposed unified public service pay offer and their Wāwāhi Tahā | Time 4 Tamariki campaign.

This campaign aims to win smaller class sizes, more support for high-needs students, better recognition of cultural skills, greater job security for our essential relievers and to fairly value and recognise the work of teachers.

There will be multiple options for meetings in the period of 14-25 November in order to minimise disruption to teaching and learning. Our school will aim to ensure the least disruption to children's learning while upholding the right of teachers to participate in their union meeting. 

As always if I can be of assistance please do make contact.

Kind regards

Chris