Dear Kenmore Families,

As Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred passed through, I couldn’t help but reflect on the experiences we’ve shared as a community over the past few years: the COVID pandemic, the floods, and now a cyclone. Many of our families have still been feeling the effects of the 2022 floods, and I noticed the nervous anticipation on the faces of some of our families as they left school on Wednesday afternoon to prepare their homes for the latest weather event. The cyclone had everyone on edge, knowing the potential for more damage. But as we gathered again on Tuesday, the sense of relief was clear. Things could have been much worse, and for that, we are all grateful.

Thankfully, our school came through the cyclone with minimal damage – some fallen gums, lost power, loose branches and debris, and a small amount of water ingress in some classrooms. Thanks to the quick actions of our cleaning and grounds staff, we were able to prepare for our students' safe return. A big thank you to all involved for making sure everything was safe and ready.

I hope you and your families were spared from major damage. I know that for many of us, the days after such events are often the hardest, as we deal with the clean-up and any ongoing uncertainty. If you need any assistance during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help.

It was wonderful to welcome the students back to school on Tuesday. Each and every one of them had a story to tell as they reunited with their friends and teachers.

As a principal, these events require us to make decisions that affect many in our community. We do our best to consider and balance everyone’s needs, always keeping the safety of our students, staff, and community as our top priority. It’s been a big few years, with the global pandemic, floods, and now this cyclone. But what I’ve seen time and time again is how our community comes together to support one another.

The way our community steps up, whether in times of crisis or in day-to-day life, is truly what makes this school special. Thank you for continuing to support each other and for making our school a place where we can all feel safe and cared for.

Finally, my thoughts are with all of our staff, students, and families who’ve been affected by this event. Even though the cyclone has passed, I know that many are still managing recovery efforts at home and at school. Please continue to look out for one another and reach out if you need support.

Important Updates Regarding NAPLAN, Parent-Teacher Conversations, and Teacher Planning:

As you can imagine, the cyclone has impacted a number of important events in our school calendar, including NAPLAN testing, Parent-Teacher Conversations, and teacher planning schedules. We understand that these disruptions have affected the delivery of these programs, and we want to assure you that we are working to accommodate these changes.

In the coming weeks, we will provide alternative plans where possible, keeping in mind that the school calendar is already tight and finding time in the schedule can be difficult. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we navigate these changes.

For families who missed the Parent-Teacher Night who would still like to book in a time with the teacher, please use the link below to reschedule a booking:

NAPLAN has been rescheduled for next week for our Year 3 and 5 students. Schedule below:

Thank you for your ongoing support and for being part of the Kenmore community.

Kind regards,

Ingrid