Self-motivated, sanitised, and back at school

YEAR eleven student, Charlotte Eastwell said it was “strange” arriving at school, Phoenix P-12 Community College last week.

Having been away from campus, learning at home due to COVID-19 restrictions, she said the reopened site is safe but “completely different.”

“All of the walkways are one way – in one door and out the other. Every single classroom, you have to sanitise your hands when you walk in the door, and then when you leave again,” she said.

“The canteen is the most different. We have to order our food before school or on an app.”

Over at Loreto College, year 12 pupil Stephanie Jones is happy to be back on site.

She said all desks have been separated in classrooms, rooms are thoroughly sanitised, and teachers are socially distancing from students.

“They recommend that we all keep sanitiser on us and sanitise when we need to, and keeping classroom doors open as much as possible so we’re not touching doorhandles,” she said.

“It’s been different, but having been in isolation, it doesn’t feel too foreign.”

Stephanie said the best thing about being back by Lake Wendouree five days a week is being able to see her friends again.

“I know being in isolation is not the worst thing that’s ever happened on the planet, but it was hard being away in a year that’s so key, and missing out on celebrating 18th birthdays,” she said.

Charlotte agreed that seeing her classmates and teachers has been most positive, although some are still off-site to reduce risk to their health.

“Most of my friends aren’t back at school because they’re still social distancing and isolating. They might not even be back this semester,” she said.

“It’s great being able to see, communicate with, and ask questions of my teachers in real time. I do year 12 theatre studies. Being back in those physical classes is a lot better.”

As a physics and chemistry student, Stephanie has relished the opportunity to return to practical VCE classes too. She said the cohort of 2020 will be stronger, having experienced the COVID era.

“I have a sister in year 8. She can catch up on things in the next year, but this is the one year my cohort has to get everything right before university.

“The whole experience will be beneficial for year 12 in the end, because it’s helping us to find our own self-motivation, especially going into university next year,” she said.

“It’s given us a taste of what it’s going to be like and how we’re going to have to work.”