Waimarino schools miss teacher shortage

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 620, 23 January 1996, Page 3

Waimarino schools miss teacher shortage

Schools around the southern Ruapehu have largely avoided the national teacher crisis, with mostset to start the year fully staffed. Ohakune Primary School principal Ellen Gould said the national situation had affected her school in that there weren't the numbers applying for jobs and they sometimes had to re-adver-tise some positions before filling positions. "Although we've been lucky the national situation is around and it does affect us," she said, "but the community needn' t fear as there is a lot of talent waiting in the wings (teachers on maternity leave, for example)." Raetihi School starts the

year fully *staffed although two positions are to be advertised at a later date. The school is being painted and this should be finished before the school' s centennial celebrations. Orautoha School has a new principal release teacher, Janet Ness. The school starts the year with 17 pupils which is up from January 1995 when the roll was 13. Early into the new school year the children will be going on a camp trip to Mt Maunganui. Ruapehu College is.fully staffed for 1996. Two new members join the staff replacing others who have either left the College or have been ap-

pointed to new positions. The new staff are: Malcolm Haig, coming from Cambridge High School, and appointed head of physical education. Mr Haig, married with one son, comes with a number of years of experience in physical education and outdoor education. Heknows the Waimarino area well and has been involved for a number of- years with the Cambridge High School ski team. He also has a strong interest in college basket-

ball. Nicola Rattray, coming from Avonside Girls High School, has been appointed head of department for home economics. Ms Rattray has a degree in education and a degree in home economics. Sheisinterested in outdoor education and will add strength to the outdoor education committee of the college and the programme that is planned, said principal Ralph Lane. "We have been very impressed by the calibre of

applicants who have applied for the jobs at Ruapehu College and have-thus been able to pick new staff with real expertise who are Sui fed to the programmes being run here," said Mr Lane. "The fact that a number of applications have been received for positions advertised during the year augers well for the future of the college and tells us that the reputation of Ruapehu College is now well reeognised i as a positive education centre."