Popular teacher leaves Waiouru

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 401, 27 August 1991, Page 6

Popular teacher leaves Waiouru

BYJOHOWIE Senior teacher Nigel Bioletti and his family are leaving Waiouru at the end of the term. Nigel has spent his two years teaching the Form I and II pupils, and he moves on to Kaihere, a 55 pupil school as principal. He will teach the Standard 4 to Form II class and will be working with two other full time teachers and one part time teacher. "We are moving because its the next step on", Nigel said. "It will be very satisfying to have my 'own school' again and work closely with a rural community. It is a necessary step in my teaching career that I gain experience in school administration under the Tomorrow's Schools concept". Nigel said he enjoyed

the role of Assistant Principal during his time at Waiouru. He enjoyed participating in the day to day organisation of the school. Nigel said he thought Tomorrows Schools and Waiouru's Board of Trustees were advantageous for the school. "It's allowed the school more flexibility. We are able to get ideas off the ground." When asked what needed to be done to make a teaching position more attractive in Waiouru to encourage teachers to stay, he said "There are a number of possibilities - many of which seem minor, but if put together could make a Waiouru appointment more attractive. Teachers could be allowed two - three days per year, possibly on pay, if

Waiouru opts for bulk funding in the future. Parents often jibe at

teachers for the generous holidays they receive, but teachers have little

flexibility when it comes to leave provisions and I also believe

that teacher salaries are not great, especially when one considers the skill that many teachers have assimilated after several years of teaching." "Our Board of Trustees is working towards the provision of cheaper firewood for teachers. On a school basis, the Board of Trustees could agitate for part time hours so that the school has some flexibility in allowing teachers relcase time for staff development, resource management, and general organisational matters. This is a greatcr problem in Waiouru due to physical layout of the school." "Assistance with lunchtime duties would also enable teachers to direct more of their energies into class programmcs. Teachers are on duty up to four timcs a week, bccause of the layout of the School. Active and positive parcnt support would also make teachers fecl more positive about their work." "If these, and other ideas that the Board of Trustees and Teachers could suggest, were put together, then I am sure that we might achicve evcn more stability than the school has achicved

over the past few years". Nigel said he will miss the staff and the children in his class. He will also miss being an active member of The Bond Brothers', band from Taihape. He particularly enjoys teaching Maths, Language, and Science, and outdooor education. Nigel's wife Chris, has also been an active member of the community and the school staff. Over the two years she has relieved four full terms. She taught special needs in the junior department, job shared one term teaching new entrants class, she has also taught one term with Standard 4, and one term with Standard 2. This year Chris has done day-to-day relieving at school and kindergarten. She has been involved in a number of community activities, including the Children's Library. Before Waiouru, Nigel was the sole teacher at Ngamatea school, and Chris was a vital part of the team, so she has some idea of what to cxpcct, and is looking forward to her supportive role at Kaihere. They are expccting their third child in Decembcr, following Samuel who is seven, and four-year-old Ella.