Porritt School Press
OCS-Spring Junior Newsletter
Kia ora e te whānau,
The school holidays are upon us after a very busy term. This is a chance to review and recap the final few days and weeks of Term 3 before looking toward a really full Term 4.
This edition of the Porritt School Press features an update around our 50th Jubilee and the industrial action that will impact one of our planned events.
Porritt School will be closed for instruction on Thursday 23 October as teachers, support staff and principals in primary schools and intermediate schools strike across the country.
Our 50th Jubilee Celebration event in the evening at Napier Old Boys Marist Rugby Club will go ahead as planned for those registered to attend.
We also have our Teacher-Only Day on Tuesday 28 October, so your child will be away from school for a period of six days in late October. We cannot reorganise this event as our MOE facilitator, venue and professional development that day is pre-booked with no ability for us to reschedule. However, Porritt Care is open for enrolled tamariki.
I understand this time away from school is not ideal for all. I empathise with our working families trying to navigate this industrial action. I myself, as a parent of a high school student that has been affected by secondary school strikes, understand the impact on the normal rhythms for whānau.
I am personally and professionally concerned for the sector as resourcing and support for our learners continues to be an increasing challenge, and numbers of experienced teachers departing or retiring grows, paired with the dwindling numbers of new teachers entering the profession.
I also cite the degradation in the commitment to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi through central government decision making that has impacted education as well.
These are extraordinary times for the education sector as all three groups within the union strive for a positive shift for our tamariki and for the profession. Thank you for your support and understanding.
We are excited about the term to come! We are working hard in this non-contact time for what is ahead in Term 4. What an action-packed time and significant time it is going to be.
Ngā mihi whakamiha - respectful regards,
Maaka Papuni - Tumuaki/Principal
Our new Porritt School Board meets for the first time on Wednesday 15 October following our first Porritt School Board election process for some time. This is a fantastic sign of an engaged community.
We will be welcoming new members Lee-Ann Grant, Puhiwahine Nepe Apatu and Kane Nepe Apatu.
Our new members join existing parent members Ken Marshall, Kevin Walsh, and Pōhatu Paku, alongside Gail Shine as Staff Representative and Maaka Papuni as Principal member.
Thank you to all of you that cast votes in this election. Another sign of great engagement from our whānau and caregivers.
Acknowledgements to Jo Hayes, our Returning Officer, for her significant work throughout this process.
A final thank you to Rhondda Sweatman, Chris Olsen and Daniel Whyte for your contributions to the board across time. Your effort and input has helped shape our kura in significant ways. Ngā mihi nunui ki a koutou.
NZEI Primary Teachers, Support Staff and Principal's Union Votes to Strike
Across the past month, all NZEI Union members across the country - teachers, support staff have been engaged in consultation around the negotiations with the Ministry of Education.
Ultimately, across all three groups nationwide, the offers that have come to some of these groups have been rejected and the votes taken around industrial action having been clear - this action will go ahead. Education joins the Health sector and the Professional Firefighters Union in taking this action.
Porritt School will be closed for instruction on Thursday 23 October.
We understand this is disruptive for our whānau and caregivers. In fact, it lands inconveniently during the week of our 50th Jubilee. Having said that, this action is designed to be disruptive in order to resume negotiations with the MOE.
As a sector, we as teachers, support staff and principals have identified through the NZEI Te Riu Roa union, a wish to focus our claims on;
- Increased resourcing in classrooms across the country with a focus on learning support and teacher aide time
- A focus on honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi in our kura nationwide from an MOE perspective
- Improved conditions for all staff in kura nationwide to address the cost of living increases, and as our teaching population ages, to ensure teaching can attract a viable workforce in the future.
We'll continue to update our whānau and caregivers here at Porritt School, and appreciate any support from our community.
Details about our re-organised Jubilee Celebrations are below.
