Education officials answer questions about sending children back to school – or keeping them home
Three senior education officials answer your questions on the return for term 2, what safety measures are in place and what's available for home schooling.
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Department of Education chief executive of schools and preschools, Anne Millard.
Why do education administrators say it is safe to send my children back to school for term 2 during the coronavirus?
Our position has always been guided by the advice of SA Health and Australia’s expert health body, AHPPC.
That advice is that schools, preschools and early childhood facilities should be open because they are essential services and low risk environments for students and children.
To date, only two per cent of local cases have occurred in school students, all of whom had mild illness and have now fully recovered.
In light of the current low rates of infection in South Australia, students are encouraged to return to their classroom for term 2.
What safety measures like social distancing will be put in place to protect teachers and students?
Schools and preschools are taking practical steps to operate in line with public health advice. This includes cancelling assemblies, excursions and large gatherings, staggering lunch breaks and cleaning more regularly.
To further support the safety of staff and students sites are also implementing physical distancing measures and encouraging good hygiene practices, including teaching students of all ages to avoid passing on germs.
The health advice provides an exemption allowing schools to keep playgrounds and libraries open. But sites have increased supervision and cleaning in those areas to manage risk.
Extra soap and hand sanitiser has been purchased by sites and where local supply has been disrupted the department is making bulk deliveries.
Will teachers be conducting classes in the traditional classroom manner, or will online tools be used at the schools as well?
Schools and teachers have prepared to provide lessons in person and remotely through a combination of online and hard copy resources.
This has been a huge undertaking in a very short amount of time and enormous credit must go to principals and teachers for their efforts.
We emphasise that while the remote learning options are good quality, learning is best done at school in a classroom with professional teachers.
Schools will transition back to their usual timetable during the early part of Term 2. However, we expect a blended model of learning for those students who remain at home.
How will my children learn if they stay at home?
Over the past month schools have prepared remote learning resources and we have rolled out new technology to support learning from home.
Teachers will still direct your child’s learning but if you are keeping them at home you will need to provide some structure and support.
It’s important to remember that your child, their teacher and you are doing something entirely new, so don’t be too hard on them or yourself.
Who do I talk to for more information?
Your child’s teacher or school principal is the best source of information on what your child’s learning looks like for term 2.
Catholic Education SA assistant director Bruno Vieceli
Why do education administrators say it is safe to send my children back to school for term 2 during the coronavirus?
Catholic Education SA believes – as the government does – that our schools are safe places. We are following the latest advice from SA Health.
Parents who are concerned that their child may be at higher risk due to an existing medical condition such as heart disease, lung disease, cancer, immunodeficiency, diabetes etc, should seek medical advice and discuss the matter with their school principal.
What safety measures like social distancing will be put in place to protect teachers and students?
Catholic Education SA is following health guidelines and ensuring that social distancing measures are in place and that our schools are safe places for students and staff.
These measures include encouraging students and staff to:
- Stay home if they are unwell
- Sanitise hands when entering school and at regular intervals
- Defer activities that lead to mixing between classes and year levels
- Avoid queuing
- A number of events have been postponed or cancelled including:
- larger gatherings such as school assemblies and masses
- excursions and camps
- sport and other extra-curricular activities that involve close contact of students
Will teachers be conducting classes in the traditional classroom manner, or will online tools be used at the schools as well?
At the start of Term 2, Catholic schools will be providing online learning to all students whether they are at home or at school. We will review this on an ongoing basis and plan to revert to face-to-face learning as soon as possible
How will my children learn if they stay at home?
Catholic Education SA has launched a new website – www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/learning-online – that will support students living and learning in an online environment.
The Learning Online website will ensure learning continuity and support our students and teachers as they engage in online learning and teaching. Schools are using this and other resources to plan and deliver quality learning programs to all students.
The website includes:
Sample timetables, information on designing online learning and a collection of online learning resources for teachers
Practical information for parents about setting up a learning environment at home, creating routines and technology support
A guide to supporting your child’s learning and wellbeing online
Who do I talk to for more information?
Schools are providing specific information for students and parents about the arrangements for learning in Term 2. Parents should contact their school to discuss questions about their child’s learning and wellbeing. Parents are also encouraged to review the information for families on our website:
https://www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/learning-online/information-for-families
Association of Independent Schools of South Australia chief executive Carolyn Grantskalns.
Why do education administrators say it is safe to send my children back to school for term 2 during the coronavirus?
It is important for parents to know that the decision to keep schools open is based on the advice of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and the State Government Chief Medical Officer. The health advice is that on current evidence schools are not high-risk environments for students and staff. Mental health considerations also mean that, given the low physical risk, children are better off overall at school.
What safety measures like social distancing will be put in place to protect teachers and students?
The safety of the school community is of paramount importance to all school leaders. Measures have been put in place by schools to protect both teachers and students since the start of the pandemic, including distancing measures, additional cleaning, education and communication about good hygiene practices. The range of safety measures implemented is similar but will vary from school to school and they will work within the advice provided by Commonwealth and State health experts. Following on from practices established in Term 1, en masse gatherings such as assemblies have either stopped, or are undertaken through virtual means.
Will teachers be conducting classes in the traditional classroom manner, or will online tools be used at the schools as well?
Independent schools have been working with their parents to plan the learning for their students in term 2. Within the Independent school sector there will be a variety of approaches to teaching depending on the needs of students and their families. For some schools this will be face-to-face teaching for some of the students in the classroom, or over a number of classrooms with fewer people in them, and with other children at home undertaking learning remotely. Other schools will supervise students at school to undertake the same work as those at home.
How will my children learn if they stay at home?
Schools have been thinking carefully about how they intend to support students to learn at home. Some of the school day may be similar, for example meeting together virtually at the start of the day, but the overall daily timetable may be different. Schools have regularly contacted their communities to share ways through which parents can support their children learning at home. Independent schools have a very close relationship with their communities and have a range of ways in which they communicate with parents to provide ongoing support. The wellbeing of students and their parents is a prime concern.
Who do I talk to for more information?
All schools are in regular communication with their parents. I would recommend that parents talk directly to their individual school if they want information about their school’s specific circumstances. General information about COVID-19 is also available on the Australian Government Department of Health and SA Health websites. The Department for Education website also has a range of information to support parents. All South Australians have a part to play in flattening the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic and Independent schools are working hard to play theirs.