We have certainly been fighting on a few fronts. Between COVID and gastro we have had high absenteeism in both students and staff. Having to be Mrs Dyson in the front office for a week was a real challenge for me. Dispensing, ice and band aids is one thing, arguing over the array of serious injury, illness and disease students diagnose themselves with was another thing. My favourite self-diagnosis was a combo of a broken leg and COVID. One RAT test put pay to the COVID diagnosis and a gentle rotation and bending of the leg accompanied by a lot of 'mmming' saw the diagnosis overturned and a successful return to the classroom. There was no one happier than me to see Mrs Dyson return to work.
Despite all the interruptions to school our Aboriginal Cultural group worked hard to create a performance for the Aboriginal Education Consultancy Group (AECG) zoom meeting. Please check it out on our Facebook page. A few students also attended Merewether Beach on Saturday morning to open Surf Fest. These few joined with Mayfield East PS and Callaghan College Jesmond students to create a brilliant opening performance. My thanks to the parents that drove into the beach on a rainy and dark morning to get their kids there.
Our school leaders, along with a troupe of Stage 3 students have been working hard to prepare their ANZAC Day Ceremony. I'm singing for the rain to clear away so we can all gather in Federal Park and honour our ANZACs. Please hum a few bars of 'rain, rain, go away' and help me out. It would be a welcome change for us all to come together over the last two days of school and share in those rites of passage - ANZAC Day, Eater Hat Parade and sports carnival.
