Kudos for pupils' pets

BEATS AN APPLE: Kaitaia Primary School teacher Kirsty Dolphing accepts a hug from Briar Sutherland, who reckons she's a world-class teacher. PICTURE/JUSTINE GAMBLE

There was no talk of teachers' pets on Friday. It was all role reversal as the Far North branch of the NZEI helped celebrate those who had achieved world-class status in the eyes of those they teach.

World Teachers Day gave primary pupils past and present the chance to nominate a 'world-class teacher', with four draws made to select the winners of $25 Essentially Flowers gift vouchers.

The winners were:

Barb Hall (Kaitaia Intermediate), who taught her nominator, Shenaye Olsen, in 2001, and was remembered as a "wonderful teacher".

Kirsten Dolfing (Kaitaia Primary), who according to nominator Briar Sutherland "helps me with my work. She is great".

Raewyn Jujnovich (Abundant Life), nominated by Atawhai Wilson: "She is a crack-up but still disciplines us."

Vasanti Sima (Kaitaia Intermediate), nominated by Chloe Lilly: "She teaches us all the stuff we need to know before we get to college and gives us easy but hard challenges to defeat."