Northern Rivers schools’ creative fix for flood-ravaged students

Nine northern NSW schools have been condemned after floods devastated the region in recent weeks. More than 1000 students are now forced to travel to other schools for lessons.

In a town like Wardell, in the NSW Northern Rivers region, the local school is the centre of the community.

So when Wardell Public School was wiped out by flooding at the end of February, it was a loss felt well beyond the students and staff.

Wardell Public School is just one of nine NSW schools so vital to their communities they have been earmarked for rebuilding after floods devastated the North Coast and Northern Rivers.

In Wardell, it wasn’t just the historic school that was destroyed by water and debris, but much of the township too.

“Three-quarters of the school’s families lost their homes and everything they owned,” principal David Owen said.

“It’s been devastating for everybody and there will be trauma for a long time to come.”

Wardell Primary kids arrive at Alstonville Primary under the watch of Alstonville principal Peter Flannery and Wardell principal David Owen. Picture: Danielle Smith

Wardell Public School is one of the oldest in the state, founded in 1867 soon after the establishment of public education. Its community is small, with just 35 students and about half a dozen staff, but particularly tight knit.

The school will remain closed for many months to come while it undergoes a rebuild, and the
land around it remains too damp for demountable classrooms to be installed.

But keeping the kids in class has been identified as crucial to both their learning and emotional recovery, prompting the Department of Education to establish a new plan.

Each school day the Wardell students and staff are collected by bus and driven 15km northwest to Alstonville Public School where they’re operating their own “school within a school”.

“It was key to us when we knew we were moving to another site to keep the cohort together and maintain their sense of identity,” Mr Owen said.

“The Alstonville principal has been able to alter things to be able to give us our own space, our own break and bell times, and really just keep us in our routine as much as possible.”

Belinda Barnes and daughter Stella lost their home in the flood. Picture: Danielle Smith

Alstonville principal Peter Flannery was among those who assisted the Wardell community during the floods, and immediately offered to host its students at his school.

It was a personal cause for Mr Flannery, who served as the Wardell principal a decade ago.

“We had the space and we weren’t overly affected by the floods so I was able to make that commitment to them,” he said.

“It was important to them and to me to get the school operational as soon as possible, so we were able to move quickly to keep everyone together.”

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said if the weather cleared long enough for the ground to dry out, it was hoped “pop-up schools” of demountable classrooms would be ready for six of the Northern Rivers and north coast schools early in term two.

“Having visited the flood-affected schools a few times now, I am in awe of the spirit of generosity and incredible efforts from principals, teachers and school staff to get the best learning and wellbeing supports in place for their students,” Ms Mitchell said.

“We will be consulting the community every step of the way as we plan the rebuilding of these nine schools.”

Wardell Public School has been ravaged by the floods that engulfed the Northern Rivers region. Picture: Supplied

Emergency Services and Resilience and Flood Recovery Minister Steph Cooke said about 1200 students and 150 staff were learning from alternative sites.

“Schools have an incredible ability to bring our communities together, which is why it’s so important to have them repaired and operational as soon as possible,” Ms Cooke said.

Keeping classes running has been as significant to students as it has to their teachers.

“We miss our old school and can’t wait to get back there when we can,” Wardell Public School Year 5 student Stella Barnes said.

Stella, 11, and mum Belinda lost their home during the flood disaster and have been staying with family for the past six weeks.

The normality of daily schooling has been a big part of their healing process.

“The kids had a couple of weeks off during the flooding, but to get Stella back into school was really important,” Ms Barnes said.

“The school has been really great too in terms of welfare checks, regularly checking in on all of us and keeping everyone up to date. That support is going to be really crucial going forward, not just for the students who are flood affected but those who witnessed everything that’s gone on in the community and all the volunteers too.”

The Barnes have been praised for going above and beyond to help Wardell even after their home was inundated.

“I was astounded, just after everyone’s houses went under including their own, there are Belinda and Stella driving around town delivering food and supplies to people,” Mr Owen said. “They’d lost it all but were happy to be helping the community.”

That same community spirit is reflected in Mr Owen’s hopes for the town’s future.

“I think it’s going to take a lot time to rebuild. But all that really matters to me is that all our students and families are safe,” he said.

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