Access to education is one of the most important pillars of our society. It gives us a solid start in life and a basis from which to pursue a vocation of our choosing as we enter young adulthood.
Aside from academic subjects, schooling gives young people countless other life skills like team building, interpersonal skills and problem solving. Students discover creative arts and develop sporting abilities.
These fundamentals were turned upside down, as coronavirus saw many parents make the difficult decision to keep their kids home. The ensuing weeks were an unprecedented time for the State's teachers and parents alike.
Teachers displayed remarkable resilience and ingenuity as they created virtual classrooms overnight while maintaining a presence at their school for those unable to stay home. The children of frontline health workers, for instance, needed schools to support them, so they could keep supporting us.
Teachers have been calling their students learning from home to check they were coping and understood lesson plans. Support that was extended to parents as well. Above and beyond, to say the least.
At the same time, parents with kids at home were becoming quasi teachers themselves, while also juggling professional workloads. A challenging set of circumstances for anyone to confront - but so many did, with steadfast dedication.
After weeks of statewide quarantine, students now return to school full-time after health advice indicating full time face-to-face learning was safe to resume.
Schools will continue to ensure that cleaning, access to hygiene supplies and compliance with hygiene practices are well in hand, while excursions and assemblies will remain suspended to support social distancing.
As the bells ring out across campuses, I want to say thank you to our teachers. And as for our stars, our students - remember, school is now well and truly back in session.
