Holiday Homework For Parents

Entertaining children is a top priority for parents these school holidays and also high on the list will be parent homework - nominating excellent teachers in the National Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards
 
Convenor of the New Zealand Selection Panel, Brother Pat Lynch, says teacher pupil and teacher parent relationships are well and truly formulated by the end of the third term.
 
 "Parents know their children's teachers, can see the developmental changes in their children and know of that special teacher who has played such an important part in a child's learning, interest and happiness at school.
 
"Nominating teachers and education leaders for these awards is a great way to acknowledge their importance in the education of the nation's children.  It is also a wonderful way to recognise the brilliance and skill of individuals in classrooms and schools.
 
"Ten to fifteen minutes is all it takes for parents to acknowledge teachers and leaders making that crucial difference, through completing and sending in a nomination form", said Pat Lynch.
 
Nominations for the 2007-08 round of the National Excellence in Teaching and Leadership are open until 28 September.  Nomination forms can be completed online or forms can be downloaded from the NEiTA website www.neita.com. 
 
The NEiTA awards are jointly sponsored by ASG Education Programs New ZealandTM, a not-for-profit organisation which operates trans-Tasman assisting parents to plan for their children's future education, and Multiserve Education Trust, which for 18 years has provided a wide range of support services to schools and other education sector clients.
 
All teachers/leaders nominated receive a Certificate of Nomination, with 20 area representatives selected to go forward to receive Regional Awards for Teaching and Leadership in Wellington next May (2008).  From these, ten teachers/leaders will receive National Awards at their schools or centres later next year. 
 
All ten national awardees will receive professional development grants.  Two $5,000 and three $2,500 grants each will be made for excellence in teaching and for excellence in leadership.
 
ENDS