Dear Families,
Being the final Post for the year, I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to all of the staff at James Erskine Public School. This year has been an incredibly challenging year for everyone, but I have been so thankful to work alongside such exceptional educators who are driven to provide the very best for the students in their class. They approached the transition to online learning with fervour, driven to support the children in their class. They went above and beyond in creating movies to keep as much connection as possible during a difficult time. As we returned to school, they navigated the challenges and additional workload of operating the school under ever-changing restrictions, and as we near the end of the school year, their commitment to children and the wider school community has never waivered.
In addition to our teaching staff, I would be remiss for not thanking Mr Karavias our amazing general assistant for all the work he has done around the school; his position was one that didn’t allow for him to work from home, but he pushed through uncertain times and ensured our school was looking its best at all times. Then there is our amazing office staff; the phenomenal Mrs Anderson, the exceptional Mrs Dettling, the wonderful Mrs Bold and the fantastic Mrs Karavias. These ladies are the heartbeat of this school and I cannot imagine how we would have made it through 2020 without them.
As we move into 2021, we will keep you informed of the most up-to-date guidelines and advice around the return to school through our school website and our Facebook page. Students return to school on Friday 29th January, and at present we are optimistic that parents will be able to walk students into the school gates to start day one. While this is our hope and certainly how things look at present, I am acutely aware that the return to school is two months away. As we have seen in South Australia and Victoria before that, things can change quickly and so we will need to be agile and adapt as the circumstances dictate. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and while we hope to have parents back as soon as possible, student safety will always be our number one priority.
Finally, I want to wish you all a very safe, restful and relaxing Summer holiday period. I hope that the easing of restrictions allows you to enjoy time with your family and loved ones. On behalf of all the staff at James Erskine Public School, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I look forward to seeing everyone back healthy and happy in 2021.
Kind regards,
Mrs Quinlan
