Tasmanian schools face a battle to accommodate end-of-year assemblies under COVID rules
Coronavirus has caused yet another problem for 2020, with Tasmanian parents facing being unable to attend end-of-year school assemblies due to restrictions on gatherings.
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PROUD parents of some Tasmanian school students are being shut-out from their children’s end-of-year celebrations as schools grapple with COVID restrictions.
As year-ending assemblies and award presentations approach, school principals are having to make tough calls about how the events proceed.
Under current rules, they can take place in accordance with Public Health directions which specify one person per two square metres up to a maximum of 250 people.
The Education Department said the management of assemblies under these guidelines was a school-based decision.
Glenorchy father Daniel Webb said he was saddened he could not attend the end-of-year assembly which will include his four children for the first and only time.
Mr Webb’s four children — Amala, Darcy, Rahni and Indie — all attend Goodwood Primary School and it is tradition for him to go to the celebration.
He said his children and many other parents were also upset at the news.
Mr Webb said he got a note sent home with his children saying no invited guests could attend the whole-school event but that two parents or carers could go to the Grade 6 assembly.
“It’s seeing the joy on the kids’ faces … I just like to see kids being presented and congratulated,’’ he said.
“It’s such a good feeling and I remember when I was at primary school my parents would always come.
“I’ve always made it a big thing of mine to let my work know when assembly is on so I can go. I’ve never missed an assembly.”
Mr Webb, who works in health care as a community support worker, described as a “double standard” opening Tasmanian borders to the rest of the country and easing other restrictions yet maintaining rules to prevent attendance at important school events.
“All of a sudden you can stand up and have a drink at a bar, you can do this, you can do that, but you can’t go and see your kids for one day,’’ he said.
“Whether they receive an award or not, it’s nice to see them there.”
Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations president Jared Dickason said many schools were having to deal with this issue.
Mr Dickason emphasised the importance of communication between school leadership, the school association committee and the wider school community.
He said some schools were considering live-streaming the events within the school with parents in various locations, so parents did not miss out completely.
“I just hope principals don’t see it as a decision to make by themselves — if they embrace people in the school community, a solution can be sought and at least they have the opportunity to try and create one,’’ he said.
An Education Department spokeswoman said 2020 had been a year like no other and schools had needed to adapt in many ways.
“The safety of our students and wider school community remains our number one priority,’’ she said.
“How assemblies are managed, in accordance with [Public Health] advice, is a school-based decision.
“In light of current restrictions, the Minister Education made a decision that Members of Parliament and local government councillors would not attend assemblies this year so more seats would be available for families.”
Goodwood Primary School was contacted for comment.
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