Page 4151 - Week 11 - Thursday, 17 Sept 2009
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MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Ms Burch, I think in this case you are being a bit too sensitive.
MS BURCH: So next time the opposition asks—
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: There is a level of interjection, unfortunately.
MS BURCH: Finally, then, I make comment on the outstanding efforts of those involved in assisting the students and their families to make the transition to their new schools. During the inquiry process, through submissions, the witnesses and visits to schools, it was made absolutely clear to me that the principals, teachers and staff at the schools went to extraordinary lengths to make the new students welcome. When given the opportunity to visit Miles Franklin, Melba Copland and Torrens primary on 28 July this year, the committee heard many stories of the great efforts to welcome students. It was also excellent to hear of parents of the new students integrating so well into their new school communities.
Comments given to the committee by educators who were on the front line throughout the closure process, assisting the children and parents, include the following:
… our experiences have only been positives. We had a range of programs in place. We paired the new kids up in classes, we had a welcome bbq. The parents were a little anxious at the very start but that disappeared in days.
Let me give another quote:
The kids are very active and enthusiastic. It’s wonderful to see. The Hall mums run the canteen now and hold most of the positions on the board, they’ve really taken to it.
Let me quote from another school:
Overall, it seems like the families were given plenty of time to prepare for the change and have adapted very well. We had a program called new kids on the block which really welcomed them.
And finally, let me quote from another school:
… you have to understand the effort local schools have put into setting kids the transitioning kids up for success. There’s been so much work done at every stage. We went on visits with parents, principles acted like mentors, we had group sessions, we really dispelled their fears. The teachers have been especially great.
It seems that those opposite are not interested in hearing positive stories. They are just interested in continued doom, gloom and mischief.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, these great efforts from those involved appear to have been missed entirely by my committee colleagues. I think I did raise it, and there was very
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