Fifteen of New Zealand's top primary and intermediate school teachers have been awarded and thanked this month through the OfficeMax A Day Made Better programme.
Recognising the contribution of teachers who go above and beyond the call of duty, each teacher was provided with a surprise event, flowers, a certificate and more than $1,000 worth of OfficeMax arts, crafts and stationery supplies.
The A Day Made Better team was joined by special guests, including members of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF) and members of Sticky TV, as they travelled across the country to surprise the winning teachers in their classrooms.
OfficeMax New Zealand’s National Manager, Government & Education, Blair Horsfall said that the standard was incredibly high, credited in part to the fact that it’s a peer nominated programme that needed the endorsement of other experts in the teaching field, such as the teachers and principals the nominee worked with.
“We received so many high-quality entries it made it very difficult for the judging panel. We were extremely grateful for the help from members of the teaching community, including members from the New Zealand Principals’ Federation who provided additional industry guidance,” Blair said.
“Just when we were unsure how we could boost the events even more, we had a number of special guests volunteer to come along – including members of the NZPF and all the presenters from Sticky TV.
“Sticky TV is an ambassador for 0800 What’s Up, which is a Barnardos project we are passionate supporters of.
“Combined with the peer-recognition, flowers and morning tea, it all made for a series of very special events.”
The programme that runs throughout New Zealand was adapted from the global A Day Made Better programme, which began in the US in 2007.
New Zealand teachers that were recognised included:
Mr Damian Burden, Kaikorai Valley College, Dunedin;
Mrs Michelle Picard, Fraser Crescent School, Upper Hutt;
Mrs Elaine Soich, Kamo School, Whangarei;
Ms Rita Brooking, Manurewa Intermediate School, Manukau;
Mrs Viv Norris, Omata School, New Plymouth;
Mrs Sarah Hearn, St Peter’s College, Palmerston North;
Mr Luke Willis, Melville Intermediate, Hamilton;
Mrs Sharon Allen, Te Kowhai School; Hamilton;
Mrs Lisa Johnston, Riverton School, Riverton;
Miss Trish Weaver, Rapaura School, Blenheim;
Mrs Rochelle Watson, Te Puke Primary School, Te Puke;
Mrs Yvonne Toa, Tahuna Normal Intermediate School, Dunedin;
Mrs Sara Mines, St Michael’s Catholic School, Rotorua;
Mrs Benita Mareikura, Napier Intermediate School, Napier; and
Mrs Kathy Mehrtens, Windwhistle School, Darfield.
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