Flooding chaos across North Queensland has seen the list of schools deemed unsafe for students steadily growing.
By early evening on Sunday, 2 February, the Queensland State Government’s school closures website announced 65 state schools, 13 independent schools and 25 Catholic schools would be closed on Monday, 3 February.
“Schools that appear on this website, have been deemed unsafe for students to attend,” the website states.
One woman died and thousands were under evacuation orders as torrential rain and flash flooding hit, with Townsville, Hinchinbrook and Ingham bearing the brunt of the weather.
Warnings of further flooding – and even crocodiles – followed a dump of more than 800mm of rain in some parts of the region, as residents braced for more wet weather.
“The safety of students, teachers and community members is the department’s highest priority,” stated the school closure website, in reference to advice around affected Catholic and Independent schools.
“If you have any concerns about access to a school, contact the principal or your relevant regional office. Absences recorded as a result of an extreme weather event or natural disasters are not counted on a student’s report card nor in the school’s absence data.”
According to the site, information about Catholic and independent schools in the flood-affected areas relied on third-party information, so concerned parents were encouraged to contact their principal or local education office for updated information about how access to their children’s school may be impacted, and to check any updated classroom arrangements.
Parents and carers seeking information about early childhood education and care services in the region were advised to contact the service directly, although there is a mapped site for such closures.
School closures
State schools:
Abergowrie State School (Hinchinbrook)
Airville State School (Ayr)
Aitkenvale State School (Townsville)
Annandale State School (Townsville)
Belgian Gardens State School (Townsville)
Bluewater State School (Townsville)
Bohlevale State School (Townsville)
Brandon State School (Ayr)
Burdekin School (Ayr)
Bwgcolman Community School (Palm Island)
Cardwell State School (Cassowary Coast)
Clare State School (Burdekin)
Cleveland Education and Training Centre (Townsville)
Cranbrook State School (Townsville)
Currajong State School (Townsville)
Forrest Beach State School (Hinchinbrook)
Garbutt State School (Townsville)
Giru State School (Burdekin)
Halifax State School (Burdekin)
Heatley Secondary College (Townsville)
Heatley State School (Townsville)
Hermit Park State School (Townsville)
Ingham State High School (Ingham)
Ingham State School (Ingham)
Jarvisfield State School (Burdekin)
Kalamia State School (Ayr)
Kelso State School (Townsville)
Kennedy State School (Cassowary Coast)
Kirwan State High School (Townsville)
Kirwan State School (Townsville)
Lower Tully State School (Cassowary Coast)
Macknade State School (Hinchinbrook)
Magnetic Island State School (Magnetic Island)
Maidavale State School (Ayr)
Merinda State School (Bowen)
Millaroo State School (Burdekin)
Mount Fox State School (Hinchinbrook)
Mundingburra State School (Townsville)
Murray River Upper State School (Cassowary Coast)
Mutarnee State School (Townsville)
North Shore State School (Townsville)
Northern Beaches State High School (Townsville)
Oonoonba State School (Townsville)
Osborne State School (Burdekin)
Paluma Environmental Education Centre (Townsville)
Pimlico State High School (Townsville)
Queensland Pathways State College – Townsville Campus (Townsville)
Railway Estate State School (Townsville)
Rasmussen State School (Townsville)
Rollingstone State School (Townsville)
The Willows State School (Townsville)
Thuringowa State High School (Townsville)
Toobanna State School (Ingham)
Townsville Central State School (Townsville)
Townsville Community Learning Centre – A State Special School (Townsville)
Townsville South State School (Townsville)
Townsville State High School (Townsville)
Townsville West State School (Townsville)
Trebonne State School (Ingham)
Victoria Plantation State School (Ingham)
Vincent State School (Townsville)
Weir State School (Townsville)
William Ross State High School (Townsville)
Woodstock State School (Townsville)
Wulguru State School (Townsville)
Catholic schools:
Burdekin Catholic High School (Ayr)
Gilroy Santa Maria College (Ingham)
Good Shepherd Catholic School (Rasmussen, Townsville)
Holy Spirit Catholic School (Cranbrook, Townsville)
Ignatius Park College (Cranbrook, Townsville)
Marian Catholic School (Currajong, Townsville)
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School (Ingham)
Ryan Catholic College (Kirwan, Townsville)
Southern Cross Catholic College (Annandale, Townsville)
St Anthony’s Catholic College (Deeragun, Townsville)
St Benedict’s Catholic School (Shaw, Townsville)
St Clare’s Catholic School (Burdell, Townsville)
St Coleman’s Catholic School (Home Hill)
St Francis Catholic School (Ayr)
St Joseph’s Catholic School (North Ward, Townsville)
St Joseph’s School (Mundingburra, Townsville)
St Margaret Mary’s College (Hyde Park, Townsville)
St Michael’s Catholic School (Palm Island)
St Patrick’s College Townsville (Townsville)
St Peter’s Catholic School (Halifax, Hinchinbrook)
St Teresa’s College (Abergowrie, Hinchinbrook)
Townsville Flexible School (Ayr)
Townsville Flexible School (Bowen)
Townsville Flexible School (West End, Townsville)
Independent:
Annandale Christian College (Annandale, Townsville)
Burdekin Christian College (Ayr)
Calvary Christian College (Mount Louisa, Townsville)
Carinity Education – Shalom (Condon, Townsville)
Enkindle Village School (Douglas, Townsville)
Silver Lining School (Cluden, Townsville)
Tec-NQ (Douglas, Townsville)
Tec-NQ (Rosslea, Townsville)
The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James (Mundingburra, Townsville)
Townsville Christian College (Vincent, Townsville)
Townsville Grammar School (Annandale, Townsville)
Townsville Grammar School (Burdell, Townsville)
Townsville Grammar School (North Ward, Townsville)