To all of the BHS teachers, support staff, students, parents and carers, I say thank you and well done on the crucial role that each and every one of you has played in making the best of a very difficult situation. What I have seen over the last eleven weeks is a school community that has worked resolutely and determinedly together to keep ourselves and our community safe from the spread of Covid-19, while maintaining a strong connection and learning program for our students. As we move forward I know that there are many learnings from this experience that we will take forward with us to build an even stronger and more inclusive place of learning for our students. I have heard many stories of outstanding success in all learning areas, and been able to participate personally in innovative extracurricular activities. The online Talent Quest and the Virtual Cross Country were great ways to stay connected, have some fun and remind us that well being is just as important as the curriculum. I congratulate the staff and the SRC for their organisation of these activities. The level of engagement was beyond expectation, and although winning is always great, at the end of the day it is participating that really counts.

For some students coming back to school next week is going to be like the first day of the school year all over again, and as teachers we are very aware of this. On Tuesday we will be having an extended home group. Teachers will be taking students through all of the things that they may be nervous about having forgotten. Locker keys, timetables, school uniforms, where to be at break times, hygiene protocols and a lot more, they will all be covered.

Most students have been working at home and this has been a very different experience for them, as well as for our teachers. Some students will have been more successful with their learning at home than others, and we are aware that when classes resume next week teachers will have to help students to get used to learning in classes again. So be reassured that your family can enjoy the long weekend without return to school anxiety, students can look forward to seeing their friends and teachers. I know that teachers are very much looking forward to having their classes back.

One of the big messages that I keep hearing again and again from students and parents is the new awareness, appreciation, and gratitude that they now have for work that teachers do day in and day out. As we welcome all students back to school next week I think we are going to see a huge shift in the way that students see their teachers. Many will have learnt how hard teachers work, how much they care about both student learning and well being, and how truly dedicated they are. At BHS we know that we are a great school. We are a great school because of the quality of our teachers and our students, together we can do amazing things and I look forward to many more of these as the year goes on.

During our Learning at Home time we have had several staff changes. Mr Paul Birkin has retired so we wish Mr Birkin well and thank him for his time at BHS. We welcome Miss Brittany Turner to our staff. Miss Turner will be teaching Grade 7B English and HASS and I know that 7B will enjoy her expertise and care.

‘As an ex-Burnie High School student, it is a surreal experience to be back this time in a professional capacity. With a science and humanities background, I was fortunate enough in 2019 to be involved in the BHS community, working with the grade 10 science/humanities teams and attending a number of excursions toward the end of the year. This year, I am incredibly excited to be working with the Grade 7 humanities team to support our students as they return to school, getting to know our Grade 7 students and being involved in the BHS community once again.’
Miss Turner

Mr Keith Bragg who is already one of our highly valued staff members will be teaching Grade 9F HASS for the remainder of the 2020 school year.

Mrs Jolene Mason has also left our staff during the period of Learning at Home. I sincerely thank Mrs Mason for the great work that she did for us during Term 1.

I am very happy to be able to introduce Miss Rachael Gillespie to our students, staff and parents. Miss Gillespie will become a full time member of the BHS staff from next week, her teaching role will include Grade 8A and 8F Mathematics and Science.

‘Hello! I am very excited to begin working at Burnie High School as a Science and Maths teacher. I spent the first 4 years of my teaching career in rural NSW schools as a Science teacher. I have very recently moved to Tasmania and look forward to living and working in Burnie. I love to play all sorts of sports, including netball and volleyball, and on the weekends I like to go camping. I look forward to meeting everyone at Burnie High, thanks for welcoming me!’
Miss Gillespie

Last but certainly not least I am thrilled to be able to introduce our School Chaplain, Mrs Hannah House.

‘Hello to the Burnie High community. Firstly thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your school community, I am eager to start to get to know you all.
My door is always open and no conversation is off the table, so please, if you see me come and say hello!’
Mrs House

Mrs House will be available to students at BHS every Wednesday and Thursday from 10 June.

Once again I look forward to warmly welcoming all students back to school on Tuesday 9 June.

Thank you and have a lovely and safe long weekend.

Trudy Durkin
Principal
Email: trudy.durkin@education.tas.gov.au