Tumbulgum kids happy to be back at school after flooding
TUMBULGUM students when back to school yesterday after wild weather on the Australia Day long weekend delayed the start of the school year.
Tumbulgum Public School principal Samantha Rawsell said the school's student body was excited to be back.
During the Australia Day long weekend, the school was inundated with floodwater.
"We had 1.2m on the playground… well throughout the whole school really," Ms Rawsell said.
"Luckily all the classrooms are on the second level because we are in a flood-prone area."
It took a massive effort from parents, staff and students and then the Department of Education to get the grounds ready for the 44 students.
"We are just waiting for some soft fall to be put under the playground equipment. The last lot was washed away," Ms Rawsell said.
"(The cleanup) started with parents, staff and students but it was too big.
"The Department of Education brought in professional cleaners on Thursday (January 31), Friday and Saturday."
Ms Rawsell said it has been the worst flood the small town has seen in the past 30 years.
"The children had a few extra days off to ensure their health and safety," she said.
The school has nine kindergarten students and four news students in 2013.
