Letter from New Zealand PM delights Ratoath pre-schoolers

Pre-school children in Raoath have made an impression on New Zealand's Prime Minister who took the time to write to them last week.

In a personalised letter, Jacinda Ardern thanked the kids of Happy Days Montessori in Ratoath for their ‘kind words and support’ after the young children insisted on writing to her on learning about how she handled Covid-19 in the country

In the congratulations card, the children wrote: "We learned about you in pre-school and how you did a fantastic job of keeping Covid out. We were very impressed with you and wanted to say well done.

"We live in Ireland in a place called Ratoath, Co Meath and our pre-school is called ‘Happy Days’. We hope you continue to lead New Zealand always."

One of the children, Annalise, drew a picture of the Prime Minister and four-year-old Jamie said Jacinda can come to his house anytime for a cup of coffee while he would have a 7-Up

Five-year-old Jack added that she was a very good leader and that his granddad knows the Haka and Harry said she was the ‘best leader ever’ and asked her to move to Ireland to be ‘our leader’.

In a typed reply, Jacinda wrote: “Thank you very much for the lovely card and thanks too, Annalise for your drawing of me - I loved it!

“It was so nice to hear from you all - especially all the way from Ireland - and I really appreciate your kind words and support. Thanks again for writing, and I hope you are all keeping safe."

Before sending, PM Jacinda added a handwritten note to say “thank you so much for writing to me - I loved your messages."

The card from New Zealand “blew the children away,” according to teacher Eilish Balfe who said they weren't expecting any reply at all.

"It all started with the children reading the book ‘The President's Surprise’ and then learning all about Michael D Higgins and his dogs and where he lives. We sent him a birthday card for his 80th and received a thank you from him which delighted the children," she said.

"Then my own daughter Minnie overheard a news clip at home about Joe Biden and rushed to tell the class the next day that there was another president in America so we learned about him.

"As the weeks went by, we learned about the Queen of England and Canada’s Justin Trudeau and a whole conversation was started about girls becoming presidents.

"Then we learned about Jacinda Ardern and the children couldn't believe that there was no Covid-19 there so they insisted on writing to her.

"We really didn't expect a reply, especially not a personalised one which was really the icing on the cake and just shows what kind of leader she is.

"I'm involved in trying to get an new deal for Early Years sector and I can't seem to get hold of any TDs about it but I can get a reply from the leader of New Zealand," she laughed

"They also wrote to Kate Middleton because she is a real princess so we will wait and see what happens there."