Back to school: Classrooms re-open as coronavirus restrictions ease

VICTORIAN parents let out a sigh of relief on Tuesday this week, as schools gradually welcomed students back into their classrooms after weeks of separation because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Torquay P-6 College principal Jessica Kelly said her staff were on site the day before the college’s Prep to Grade 2 pupils wandered through the school’s gates for the first time since late March.

She said Grade 3 to 6 pupils would be returning on June 9, in alignment with the state government’s plan.

“There’s a real lift in energy today (Monday) and a real excitement to see the students. We’ve really needed it, I think. It’s a nice reminder of how beautiful schools are.

“I’m hoping the buzz from the teachers is reflective in the students.”

Ms Kelly said her teaching staff had impressed her with their ability to adapt during the remote learning period, but she wasn’t all that surprised by this.

“I think what we’ve (the education department) shown, really, is that we’re quite adaptable as a profession.

“I don’t see there’s challenge, I just see that there’s really just making the variability and adaptability of teachers widely known.

“It happens on a daily basis where we have to chop and change plans, reconsider lessons… it’s quite a natural way for teachers to work – it’s just been a bit more public with the pandemic.”

During the first week of the return to school, Ms Kelly said her staff would focus on checking in on the well-being of pupils.

She also said the school would closely follow the Department of Education and Training’s advice on the staged return to on-site schooling, which had been moulded in partnership with Professor Brett Sutton, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer.

“We feel good, we entered the remote flexible learning well, and we’ll exit it well.”

Victoria began a staged return to on-site schooling on Tuesday this week, which saw students in Prep to Grade 2, Year 11 and 12, and all students in specialist schools hit play on face-to-face learning.

Students in Grade 3 to Year 10 will continue to learn from home until they return to school on June 9.
Premier Daniel Andrews has advised “not everything will be the same”, with schools to stagger drop-offs and pick-ups, and parents prohibited from entering school grounds.

“We’ve increased daily cleaning across the state. Schools will have extra sanitiser on hand. And all teachers are able to get tested – even those without symptoms.

“I can’t promise that there won’t be bumps along the way. But we’re doing everything we can to make the transition as smooth as possible.”

For updates, head to education.vic.gov.au.