WE ALL love starting the week off with good news - and for Warracknabeal families today, that's exactly what's happening.
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The state government announcement of $19.8 million in funding to finally finish off the Warracknabeal Education Precinct was a cause for celebration this morning.
The precinct will combine Warracknabeal Secondary College, Warracknabeal Primary School and Warracknabeal Special Development School on one site. It's a project that's been years in the making.
It follows the excitement no doubt a lot of families across the Wimmera felt last week when Premier Dan Andrews announced students would be returning to the classroom.
Students, teachers and parents have all done an amazing job during the past several weeks to adapt to remote learning.
In the face of the ever-changing "COVID-normal" lifestyle, there's barely time to sit back and reflect on what we've achieved since coronavirus first became a regular part of our vernacular.
But it's definitely worth taking the time.
For teachers, it's meant learning a whole new style of teaching, while losing the joy of face-to-face interaction with their classes.
Parents have had to take on a new role in their child's education and discover how to support their "student" through a different way of learning.
Most importantly, for the students, it's meant leaving behind the safety and familiarity of school, and learning to see home (or caravans, like year 12 Gabby Hogdes, pictured) as a classroom.
As one Wimmera principal said earlier this month, things we previously thought weren't possible have been proven possible.
Now, as this experience comes to a close, it's worth looking back and acknowledging what an amazing job everyone has done to survive - before looking back ahead to the light at the end of the tunnel.
Have a great week!
Cassandra Dalgleish
Acting editor
PS: Got a business that's open and needs some support? Shout about it during our Business Hour on the Wimmera Mail-Times Facebook page on Wednesday night. Otherwise, let me know what you're up to by emailing cass.dalgleish@austcommunitymedia.com.au.