North Shore Electorate Schools

Published on: November 2020

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-114730


North Shore Electorate Schools

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (18:55):

:40 I recognise that students, teachers and the wider school community in my electorate of North Shore have done it tough this year but have persevered through it all. Due to COVID-19, many students and teachers had to adapt to online learning from home and therefore missed out on many school activities such as sporting carnivals, school fairs, concerts and musicals, as well as being with their friends. There is no better learning environment than the classroom, and I know that there was a lot of joy and excitement at North Shore schools when friends were reunited and teachers had their students back in the classroom.

I especially thank local principals, teachers and staff from across the North Shore, who have all shown great resilience during this difficult year, as well as students and their families for assisting schools with learning from home. Although it has been difficult this year, I have still tried to be as involved with as many local schools as possible. Throughout the year I ran a number of initiatives for students, such as the recently finalised North Shore Christmas card competition, where students in kindergarten to year 2 from local primary schools submit wonderful artwork to be adorned on the front of our Christmas cards. I congratulate this year's winner, Brendan from Middle Harbour Public School, and runners-up Brecken Cullen from St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Grace Treloar from Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School and Lily from North Sydney Demonstration School. I thank the hundreds of students who submitted their artwork, which brought such joy to me and my office staff when we looked through them.

Next week I look forward to hosting the North Shore Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition, where I welcome students into this Chamber to deliver speeches. I am excited to join with these students as I welcome them into the Parliament in a COVID‑safe manner. Every year I also award the North Shore Medal to one student from each local school who is deemed to have demonstrated excellence in attitude and exhibited a commitment to the ethos of their school and has been a strong and consistent participant in school and community activities. I congratulate the recipients so far: Pratham Gupta from Cammeraygal High School and Molly Gallagher from Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College.

The Government is continuing to invest record amounts in public education in New South Wales to ensure that every child gets the best start in life. After the challenges presented by COVID-19, in 2021 local families and school staff will see work begin on major upgrades to Mosman High School and North Sydney Demonstration School. We have worked with the school community to get rid of demountables and co-design state‑of‑the‑art new buildings that will help deliver the learning needs of students and school staff and meet future growth. The Government is also progressing with the upgrade to Neutral Bay Public School, whose community has been working diligently for many years to deal with the incredible challenges of the heritage and space constraints on the site.

The budget handed down this week saw record investment into public schools. The Government is investing in 100 extra school‑based nurses, hiring more qualified school counsellors to support the mental health and wellbeing of families and students, and green lighting 1,000 projects for hundreds of eligible public schools as part of the larger metro renewal project. I thank the Treasurer and the education Minister for the work they do to ensure these investments are made where they are needed.

I thank the staff from my local school St Aloysius' College, including principals Joe El-Khoury and Mark Tannock. I also thank Dr Briony Scott and Justine Lind from Wenona School; Dr Timothy Petterson and Nick Saunders from Shore School; Stephen Webber and Ari Guha from Redlands school; Megan Connors from North Sydney Girls High School; Robyn Hughes from North Sydney Boys High School and Judy Goodsell from Neutral Bay Public School. I note that there is a former North Sydney Girls High School student in the Chamber.

Mrs Shelley Hancock:

I am here.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

Finally I thank Susan Wyatt from Mosman High School; Nicole Christensen from Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College; Anna Dickinson from Loreto Kirribilli; Kathy Melky from Cammeraygal High School; Louise O'Brien from Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School; Marion Walsh‑Gay from Beauty Point Public School; Peter Grimes from Mosman Preparatory School; Tony Duncan from Marist College North Shore; Steve Connelly from Mosman Public School; Julie Caldwell from Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School; Fiona Davis, who has recently joined North Sydney Demonstration School and will have her first build underway soon; Laura Barry and Carole Jaye from Middle Harbour Public School; and Angela Toohey and Elizabeth Stone from Queenwood School for Girls. I thank all the teachers and staff from these local schools for providing the best education for our kids. I have enjoyed working with them in my time as a member of Parliament and I look forward to joining them soon and recognising our students at the end of what has been a challenging year. Thank you and Merry Christmas.

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