At the beginning of Term 2 we started our third Return to the Workforce teacher aide programme and have just employed 20 parents as Teacher Aides. We are really grateful to the Work and Income staff and the awesome Principals who have been so supportive of this initiative. The schools involved are Hillpark, Leabank, Manurewa East, Manurewa South, Randwick Park, Roscommon, Rowandale and Takanini. The opportunities offered by this project can change lives - this morning one of the new teacher aides came to see me. She was bubbling over with excitement, eyes sparkling and said "I'm loving being a teacher aide. I'm much happier and what I learn in the classroom I take home and do with my 5 year old'.