Students from across the Coast have returned to face-to-face learning from October 18 after spending term three learning from home.
This return to the classroom has been staggered with kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 12 returning on October 18, and grades two, six and 11 returning on October 25, with the remaining grades returning on November 1.
Central Coast District P&C Spokesperson, Sharryn Brownlee, said she was excited to see students returning to the classroom.
“All the principals are really excited to see students return.
“They’re really pulling out the red carpet for the students, and I think term four will be a great one.
“Parents are feeling an incredible relief as well knowing their children will be back with their teachers, and I think the experience of homeschooling has given them a new sense of respect for their children’s teachers,” Brownlee said.
She said schools have been proactive in incorporating the COVID safe measures into classrooms.
“The schools are trying to encourage students to wear masks, some teachers have been making masks part of the learning by painting on them and making them into superheroes like Batman.
“The high schools are also being proactive by teaching lessons outdoors if possible, so the students don’t have to wear their mask all day, and they’re being proactive about good ventilation.
“Fresh air, being outside and being at school is safer for students than being anywhere else except their homes.
“I want to reassure everyone that schools are the safest place for our students to be.
“Every member of staff in a public school, all classroom teachers, administration staff, and cleaners have all been double-vaccinated.
“Only a handful of staff on the Central Coast have been stood down for not getting vaccinated.
“The teachers have been proactive and productive in using this new opportunity to try some new things with classroom learning.
“For instance, teachers have been team teaching cross curriculum content like incorporating maths and sports to really try some new things.
“If you can do activities outside, then why not take advantage of our beautiful weather,” Brownlee said.
While everyone is thrilled to be back in the classroom, Brownlee said some students have not engaged with any learning at all during term three.
“Some students and families have not engaged with any of the home learning at all which we can see, so they will be playing catch up this term.
“The schools know who hasn’t been engaging, so there will be extra support in place for those students.
“For some students, it might feel like their first day of school again.
“Learning from home has been such a different experience and I think we will see a lot of wellbeing issues, and issues with students returning to that structure.
“Some parents have also raised concerns about sending their children if they have health issues, which they can discuss with the schools to work out an arrangement,” Brownlee said.
She said staff who lost their jobs due to thm not getting vaccinated will not be eligible to return to their positions in the future, even if there are no COVID outbreaks.
Harry Mulholland