Well..... just when we thought we had seen it all, this pandemic throws another curve ball at us! It certainly has been a challenge to student learning this term, but we have been relentless in our quest to minimise the impact this has had on student learning. Like most other schools in the state, we have been hit hard with student and staff sickness earlier this year, and we would like to think that we are over the worst, but as was revealed in the Department of Education’s Covid plan for schools earlier this week, the current restrictions placed on schools and school activities will remain for Term 2 to minimise further risk. You can find the details at COVID-safe schools plan for Term 2 now available - The Department of Education Tasmania . The following is a cut and paste from the ‘Department of Education Term 2 COVID Operational Plan’ for parents and carers.

Next Wednesday is the last day of Term 1 for students and a great time to reflect with your children on the learning they have achieved this term. It has been great to see parents engaging with teachers during the Parent / Teacher discussions over the past three weeks. We look forward to continuing this conversation throughout the year.

Teachers will continue their professional learning at the student free Moderation and Professional learning day next Thursday. (Please note that the last day for students this Term is next Wednesday 13 April).  Burnie Primary School will be collaborating with teachers from Somerset, Cooee & Natone Primary Schools and with the Grade 7 & 8 teachers from Burnie High School. We will come together to look at student work to help gain an understanding and to moderate that student work against the Australian Curriculum. It’s important that students' ratings are checked against other students' work from around Burnie, and across the country.  

At our last School Association meeting, we were presented with both the new ‘Department of Education Strategic Plan 2022 – 2024’ and the Burnie Primary Strategic Plan 2022 – 2024 that aligns with the DoE document. Both are included in today’s newsletter.

Next Term, Miss T (Miss Rae Tevelein), will be taking a well-earned Long Service Leave break for all of term 2. We are fortunate to have Miss Meaghan Hosking taking on the teaching responsibilities on Grade 2T and look forward to Miss T returning in Term 3 for the rest of the school year.

Finally, I would like to convey my sincere thanks to all the staff here at Burnie Primary School for their work here this Term. I don’t usually just thank people for doing their jobs, but all the staff here have gone over and above to look after all students, their work colleagues and themselves during this challenging period. The way they have gone about it instils a great deal of pride in our Burnie Primary School community and I am grateful to be a part of this community that puts our learners first, and upholds our commitment from our DoE and Burnie Primary School Strategic Plan:

“Working together we inspire and engage all learners to learn more every day”