Dear Parents

Last week the Premier of Tasmania announced that the Tasmanian borders would remain closed until the 1st December. I must admit I did shed a tear or two at the announcement for purely personal reasons. There is no doubt these decisions are made for the right reasons and with the focus on keeping Tasmanians safe. 

However while appreciating this there also comes the realisation for so many of us that it has now been months since some have seen family members. In our community we have families who have not seen their children, grandchildren, parents and siblings and closest friends for many many months. For me personally this is the longest time I have ever gone without seeing my son and at times this does hit hard. I am grateful that we have Facetime and Zoom and technology allows us to sit together and share a meal or to cook and prepare meals together remotely. I have also discovered and not surprisingly as many who know me that his cooking abilities far surpass mine now! While it is not the same as being in the room together or hopping on a plane to see each other  we are connected and together. 

As you go about your daily business remember that we do not always know what others' circumstances are, we do not always know when someone is struggling and when all they need is a kind smile and an “Are you OK”? 

I continue to be grateful to our parents who understand the need to keep children home when they are unwell and accept our phone calls home when we need to send home students with colds. Thank you also for your understanding of staff absences due to illness.  So many of us are used to soldiering on with a sniffle or a temperature but in these uncertain times we cannot do this and we need to continue to respect and follow the COVID safe plan for the school and what this means for students and staff unwell and gatherings on site.

Kind Regards

Bernadette Brooks