The Department of Education says schools will be back to normal on Wednesday after advice changes
A change in advice from the State Government means schools will return to normal programming from Wednesday, after lockdown rules decimated staffing levels at some schools.
Education
Don't miss out on the headlines from Education. Followed categories will be added to My News.
School teachers who have been in lockdown because they visited the Greater Brisbane area after March 20 will return to schools from Wednesday, providing they have not visited the specific venues listed in contact tracing alerts.
On Monday, state schools received an instruction that anyone who had been in the Greater Brisbane area was to remain at home.
At Centenary Heights State High School on Tuesday, more than 50 staff were away and following a request to keep students at home where possible, just 370 pupils turned up for school out of a total cohort of 1792.
Writing in a letter to parents on Monday, CHSHS executive principal Maryanne Walsh said the school would be open on Tuesday for vulnerable children and those of essential workers and asked all parents and carers who can keep their children at home to do so.
“I ask this because, in our context we have upwards of 50 staff who will be required to work from home given they have been in the Greater Brisbane Area since March 20,” she wrote.
“We will therefore be significantly understaffed. To make this work classes will be combined, please be assured that safety remains our priority.”
Updating parents on Tuesday, Ms Walsh said the lockdown advice for schools had been “amended to anyone who has visited very specific venues” within the Greater Brisbane local government areas.
“If your child has been in the five areas but not to the specific venues listed on the Government Health website, then he/she may come to school as of Wednesday, March 31 and Thursday, April 1. This will of course be the same for staff,” she said.
A Department of Education spokeswoman on Tuesday said new advice meant “all school staff are considered essential workers and as such can attend their school for work”.
“This advice also applies to students.”
More Coverage
Meet the students aiming to fill a regional health worker shortage
As a way to combat a healthcare shortage, a regional Qld university has opened up two allied health programs in Toowoomba with the hopes to fill a much needed gap in the workforce. Meet a couple of the inspiring students:
‘Don’t let self-doubt hold you back’: Meet the 2025 school leaders
As school students head back into the classrooms, here’s some important advice from Toowoomba’s school leaders.
Gallery: 2025 Toowoomba prep students reveal dream jobs
School’s in for 2025, and some of Toowoomba’s tiniest students have revealed what they’d like to be when they grow up as they head to class for the first time this week. Our mega-gallery here:
Beloved Toowoomba violinist recognised with OAM
Her story will make your heart sing; meet the Toowoomba music teacher honoured with an Order of Australia Medal.
Animal shows teach kids about conserving native Aussie wildlife
Wildlife shows at the Cobb+Co Museum have been teaching kids these school holidays about the importance of caring for our iconic native Australian wildlife and about conservation.
What’s on in Toowoomba these summer holidays
From meeting all the animals at the zoo to exploring science at Cobb & Co, here’s a list of things to do in Toowoomba these summer holidays.