Teacher's day made

Students from St Joseph's School surprised and thanked their teacher this week, through an initiative to recognise teachers who go above and beyond in the classroom.

Geraldine Sumner, new entrant teacher at the Hastings school, was awarded the OfficeMax A Day Made Better award on Tuesday.

Ms Sumner is one of 10 teachers from throughout the country selected to be surprised and thanked for her efforts by the OfficeMax team with $1000 worth of OfficeMax arts and crafts, stationery and office supplies for her school.

OfficeMax New Zealand's education general manager Suzanne Flannagan said that the programme was now in its sixth year globally and since it was introduced in New Zealand the standard kept climbing.

"We adapted the global A Day Made Better programme, which began in the US in 2007, to really make it New Zealand's own by rewarding primary and intermediate teachers who are known for their passion and enthusiasm and for continually inspiring their students," she said.

"The response to the call-out has been amazing and we are so fortunate to have such high-calibre teachers in this country and while it is obvious the principals are grateful for their hard work and dedication, it's the outside recognition that really surprises them."