LET’S have a big round of applause for the teachers in our district.

The Essex Teaching Awards this month saw Ormiston Rivers win the most awards and Plume Academy highly commended with a great principal at the helm.

This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our educators.

It’s not just schools – music workshops, language groups and day-care staff must also be applauded too.

We hope the teachers are proud of their achievements and we hope the generation they are raising to, hopefully, become outstanding citizens are proud of them too.