Classes held at Kelso once again

By Wayne Patterson

Teachers and students of Kelso High School have returned to their own facilities located on the grounds of the school destroyed by fire two months ago.

A demountable school has been assembled on the school oval. Teachers were able to begin organising their classrooms on October 12 and students began to return just days after.

For the past two months, classes have been conducted in neighbouring schools, the Bathurst TAFE campus and at Charles Sturt University.

Students and staff are happy to be back at their own school in their own community even if it means a school consisting of a collection of demountable classrooms. Plans are being made for a new permanent school which should be completed in approximately two years.

Occupation of the new facilities was delayed for three days by wet weather during the school holidays. Work is continuing on landscaping but footpaths are in place and classrooms are ready for use.

Kelso High School has received outstanding support from the Bathurst community and from schools across the state. Many individuals and businesses have made donations of cash and equipment and there has been excellent support from the Bathurst Regional Council. Money from a collection taken at the August meeting of Federation Council will be used for the benefit of teachers at the school.

The school continued to function following the fire with students placing second in the open division of the Sydney Rock Eisteddfod Grand Final three weeks after the fire and the Kelso High School CirKus Surreal performing at Catapult Youth Arts Festival the following week.

The efforts of teachers, staff, students and Department of Education and Training officers to maintain the provision of education in the Kelso community is a demonstration of the of vitality of public education in NSW.

Wayne Patterson is a Country Organiser.

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October 2005 contents