Support Staff Day at Saint Joseph’s School, Wairoa, began with a special prayer service to acknowledge the work of teacher aides Wayne Goodley, Michelle Atkins and Theresa Blake, school secretary Julie Evans, cleaner Estelle Blake who often ropes in husband, Arthur to help out, and caretaker Chris Gallagher.
Teacher, Yvonne Nairn and her class of Year 7 and 8 students devised the prayer service featuring specially composed prayers, the presentation of lit candles and some well received and humorous descriptions of each of the support staff. Principal, Richard Puanaki, added to the occasion with a series of movies that featured these staff members.
Following the service, the teachers ‘shouted’ morning tea for the highly valued support staff.