Third term school holiday dates to remain unchanged next year

13/5/99
Western Australia's third term school holiday dates will remain unchanged next year and will begin on Saturday, September 23.
Education Minister Colin Barnett said today there had been some inquiries as to whether the two weeks holiday would be brought forward a week to coincide with the Olympic Games in Sydney starting on September 17.
Changing the holiday times, however, would have meant that the popular Perth Royal Show would take place on school days when it was traditionally held in the holidays to give as many children as possible the opportunity to enjoy the event.
Mr Barnett said that after discussions with the Education Department of WA, the Catholic Education Office and the Association of Independent Schools, he had decided that school holiday dates would remain unchanged.
"The Perth Royal Show is planned years in advance and is traditionally held during holiday times, so it would be unfair to change the situation at this late stage," the Minister said.
"Western Australian schools will be full of Olympic excitement leading up to and during the Games and there will still be one week of holidays coinciding with the Olympics to accommodate those fortunate enough to attend them.
"The dates below will be followed by Government schools and I encourage all non-Government schools to do the same."

Olympic Games Sunday, September 17 to Sunday, October 1, 2000
WA school holidays Saturday September 23 to Sunday, October 8, 2000
Perth Royal Show Saturday, September 30 to Saturday, October 7, 2000
Queen's birthday holiday Monday, October 2, 2000.