10 Wairarapa Midweek Carterton Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Parents fear staff shortages Tom Taylor
Ponatahi Christian School in Carterton caters to students from Year 1-13. PHOTO/TOM TAYLOR
Carterton
tom.taylor@age.co.nz
With unvaccinated staff unable to work on school property from Tuesday, parents at a Carterton school are worried that classrooms will be left without teachers. Last week, Ponatahi Christian School sent a newsletter to parents outlining the school’s circumstances ahead of the vaccine mandate coming into effect. “Parents have been asking myself and board members about the certainty for the rest of the year, and also 2022,” principal Peter Bertram said. The newsletter stated that until the end of the year, some classes might be taught by different teachers. “They will have a normal school day, but the teacher they are facing may not necessarily be their regular teacher. “In this case, parents can expect the regular teacher will be employed remotely to plan lessons and regularly come to school outside school hours to mark books and prepare resources as appropriate.” A parent, who spoke with the Times-Age on condition of anonymity,
Glenburn Station at Sunset (detail). www.kerrimcgill.com
Sunday, December 5, 2021 3 - 4.30 pm
Carterton Events Centre, Holloway St, Carterton
Wairarapa storytellers Rawiri (Ra) Smith and Gareth Winter will be in conversation about our peace loving rohe - the awa flowing through us, the maunga holding us, the tangata whenua and the newer peoples who love this valley ... Join us for this very special afternoon. PRESENTED BY: WAIRARAPA WORD
Grow your own
Mushrooms
said the newsletter was frustrating. “It’s a page of nothing that says they’ve got no plan,” the parent said. “Someone will be standing in front of your kids, but it may not be their teacher. They will not say who, or which classrooms.” However, Bertram said that parents should not be worried. “All things are under control. God will provide,” he said. He said that parents should bring their concerns directly to him, “but they shouldn’t have any outstanding concerns for the rest of this year anyway.” Staff must have received at least one dose of the
Want to spend quality time with your family? Let us clean your home or business for you! Eco-friendly regular or one-off cleaning We are also a Wairarapa stockist of Bar Keepers Friend - an amazing shower cleaner. ORDER ONLINE TODAY!
Phone 020 416 46545
info@wairarapadreamclean.co.nz wairarapadreamclean.co.nz
covid-19 vaccine by 11.59pm on Monday to continue working onsite at schools. They also needed to receive their second dose by January 1. Staff could work remotely where possible but would not be allowed any physical contact with students. Bertram said the school did not yet know what to expect in 2022. However, the school newsletter stated that some teachers might work remotely until the end of the year. “We are committed to the best possible education for all students, of the same standard as face-toface teaching, while being a good employer to all of our current staff.
“The situation is changing almost daily, and it is not yet possible to say what our plans are for 2022.” As of Sunday, the school had no vacancies listed on the Education Gazette. However, the Ponatahi parent said the mandate would not go away in two months, and the school needed to prepare for its impact on staff who chose not to get vaccinated. “What’s the actual plan? And how many teachers are we talking about?” Ponatahi was a relatively small school with 12.5 fulltime equivalent teachers catering to primary and secondary students. As of July 1, there were 135 students enrolled, according to Ministry of
Education figures. The school was affiliated with the Carterton Reformed Church. The parent said it would be difficult for the school to replace any teachers, let alone specialised Christian teachers. Other Wairarapa school principals had expressed concern that if staff chose not to get vaccinated, their schools would struggle to operate. In rare circumstances, some schools with unvaccinated teachers would be thrown a lifeline until the end of the year. Recent additions to the Covid-19 Public Health Response [Vaccinations] Order 2021 allowed schools to apply for an exemption to prevent significant disruption to learning in the remaining weeks of Term 4. However, such an exemption might only last until senior students had finished for the year, and it would not extend beyond January 1, 2022. Bertram said Ponatahi Christian School would not need an exemption. “We are looking forward to a reasonably smooth end to the 2021 school year with minimal disruption to student learning and all staff fully employed.”
Plumbing problems or Bathroom and Kitchen needing a renovation? Safe Hands Plumbing are your Maintenance Plumbing experts.
We can also assist with • Burst Pipes • Spouting and Roof Repairs • Installation of Gas Hot Water Systems • Bathroom and Kitchen Renovations Proudly Wairarapa owned and operated. With us your job is in safe hands.
Call 021 605 603
www.safehandsplumbing.co.nz
Email: sales@massons.co.nz
Creative Kitchens Wairarapa
Only
$15
bucket
Design & Manufacture of Kitchen and Bathroom Joinery
59 Kokotau Road, Carterton phone 06 3798699 office@parkvale.co.nz
Memorial Square, Carterton
Phone 06 379 8030
www.creativekitchenswairarapa.co.nz
WCM LEGAL
LAWYERS & NOTARY PUBLI C
MASTERTON CARTERTON
| CARTERTON | GREYTOWN | WELLINGTON GREYTOWNP 06 | WELLINGTON 379 4070 P 06 379 4070
WWW.WCMLEGAL.CO.NZ
