Monday 23 January 2012

School's back!

: Jordi, Fauve, and Beth.

: Scott, Harry, Zyjah and Dean.

: Skye, Sam, Chloe, John, Mathew and Rebecca.

: Tanita, Tiphanie and Deb.

: Zarli, Sally, Axelle, Emily and Jason.

Students in Port Douglas and Mossman have packed their lunch boxes and headed back to school for another year (or their first) of study.

In Port Douglas, State School students donned their new school uniforms and were brought to the gates by their parents, many of whom were more nervous than their kids while other parents seemed quite excited by the prospect of their children returning to school.

In the year ahead, parents are being asked to familiarise themselves with the changes to state school holidays that take effect from this year.

This year’s Easter holidays will be extended from six days to two weeks after a ten week first term.

For state schools, the 2012 Easter holidays will begin on Saturday 31 March and students will go back to school for term two on Monday 16 April.

The changes followed feedback that long first terms were tiring, especially for younger students, student-free days scattered throughout the year were disruptive for working parents, and that the current Easter holidays did not align with those of many non-state schools.

A one-off Queen's Diamond Jubilee holiday on June has been planned allowing community and sporting events to continue without disruption.

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Richard , 27-01-12 12:06:

Just out of interest, and shoes aside, are kids allowed to wear sunglasses at school when outside?

Bec , 24-01-12 14:39:

I think the new school uniform looks great - at last a principal with some vision and a desire to instill some pride back into Port Douglas State School. As for the shoes, a little annoying true but I would rather the teachers were focused on educating our children rather than dealing with petty foot injuries.

Dam , 24-01-12 11:02:

Not happy about forcing the kids to were shoes to school. The only time my kids now where shoes is to go to school The old system worked fine, if you wanted your kids to where shoes you could and if you where happy enough for them to go bare feet then that was fine. It was a win-win situation for all parties. To make matters worse there was no vote on this issue. We were just told. Very disappointed in the school and the while process that steam rolled this through.