Submerged: Driveways flooded near Kialla West Primary School.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
All 28 of Greater Shepparton’s public primary schools and Greater Shepparton Secondary College are closed, including Verney Rd School and the Shepparton Flexible Learning Centre.
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Catholic schools in the region are also shut.
A Victorian Department of Education spokesperson said the flooding had impacted all public schools in Greater Shepparton over the past four days.
“All have been impacted, directly or indirectly, by the flood and all these schools ... remain closed today on the advice of Victoria State Emergency Service and the DET,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said all school principals had been working tirelessly and were in the process of contacting all Greater Shepparton students and their families.
“All students and their families are being supported based on individual needs thanks to the care and constant efforts of our Greater Shepparton public school staff,” the spokesperson said.
“Schools are aware of vulnerable students and are working with carers and families to ensure support is provided where it is needed most.”
Checking in: Premier Daniel Andrews visits the Incident Control Centre on Tuesday.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who was touring Shepparton on Tuesday, said VCE students directly affected by the flooding would be given a derived examination score that was deemed appropriate.
Mr Andrews said it was going to be "incredibly difficult for students who can't be at home and they can't remotely learn either because teachers are being flood-affected as well”.
“Application of the derived examination score will mean students are not disadvantaged.
“We will also work with schools that will identify those students to which this applies."
Mr Andrews said VCE students who needed support during this difficult time could ring 1800 771 588.
Change: VCE final exam results will go off derived results.
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Getty Images
Closed: St Mary’s School in Mooroopna on Sunday. Photo: Dave D'Elia.
Catholic schools will also remain closed for the immediate future.
Notre Dame College principal John Cortese said it was unlikely students would be returning this week, but he did note that both campuses were intact and had no damage.
“We are in discussion with local authorities regarding the situation. At this stage, we won’t be opening this week at all,” he said.
Mr Cortese said the message for parents, carers and students was to support each other during this challenging time.
He said the school would send out online surveys to parents and carers in the coming days to ask where they were in terms of flood recovery and if it was viable to send their students to school.
“We will send out online surveys throughout the portal to ask parents and carers to see where they are at in the flood recovery — some may not have internet access and all that, so we need to wait to see the unfolding day-to-day,” he said.
Mr Cortese recommends that those Year 12 or Year 11 students studying unit three and four subjects contact their teachers by whatever means for exam preparations.
“I understand it is an extremely tough time for our students studying Year 12 or doing unit three and four subjects. I recommend that students check in with their teachers and stay connected with their fellow students,” he said.
“Same goes for our year 7 to 11 students. Please reach out to your teachers if you can but keep doing the best you can, such as reading your previous notes from past lesson plans to connecting with students and discussing your subjects.”
Mr Cortese said the extracurricular activities that were due to occur, such as camp for the Year 8 cohort, would be cancelled, while Year 12 events would be postponed and pushed back after the exams, with the graduation mass to be held on Thursday, 17 November.
