March 2023

Kia ora koutou,

Well Autumn has definitely shown its head over the last few weeks down here in the south. The nights are drawing in, the dew is plentiful each morning and the days are shortening.

I really love this time of year as it pushes me to look within and take the chance to reset.

We have had a huge few weeks in the teaching profession and to top it all off we band together this week to strike for more pay, more time and equality between our sectors. 

While in some ways this makes us think of division and negativity I urge you to focus on the positive. The connections we are forming with other professionals in our field and the changes that are possible when we all work together as one.

I also urge you to take a few moments to think about teaching and why you do it. When surrounded by all of this negativity in the media and elsewhere, it can be easy to feel defensive at this time. Take some time to think of the children’s lives that you have affected in a positive way. The connections you have within your community, the look on a child’s face when they finally understand what you have been trying to teach them, and the awe and wonder children have for life in general. These are the reasons we teach and these are the things that make you a great teacher. Treasure these moments as there are not many professions that can boast such massive impacts on a daily basis.

On another note, I have the pleasure of being part of the Fiordland and Northern Southland Kahui Ako or community of learning as an across school teacher. I work with a fabulous bunch of passionate and motivated kaiako who strive to do the best for their colleagues and the children within this community.

This term they have decided to implement the work within The Classroom Connections Project into their classrooms and I’m truly excited to help them in making this a huge success for their tamariki.

I am also lucky enough to have been asked to present at an upcoming conference in South Otago which I am really looking forward to. If you have any colleagues in this area please urge them to register for the Clutha Health and PE Conference on April 20th. Ginny and her team have put together an awesome  collection of workshops relating to all areas of our health and PE curriculum and I’m really excited to be part of it.

Only a few short weeks until the holidays,

Take care and remember to take time for yourself,

Nga mihi,

Natalie