How Unley High reacted to COVID-19 infections

When Unley High School learned coronavirus had been diagnosed within its community, there was little time to prepare before life for students and teachers changed drastically.

Biology teacher David Messer at Unley Hig not only looked after his own students but taught other teachers how to navigate online platforms so they could also keep working. Picture: Tom Huntley

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When Unley High School was forced to close because of coronavirus infections, there was no time to waste.

About 100 students went into quarantine and most others were kept home by worried parents.

But the teaching staff was determined to keep lessons going. Acting co-ordinator of science at the school, David Messer, stepped up and not only looked after his own students but guided other teachers into how to use online platforms.

“He did an exceptional job,” Unley principal Greg Rolton said.

Mr Messer is the just the type of teacher The Advertiser is keen to acknowledge publicly for helping school communities get through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Unley was already pretty good with online, we use Google Classroom and the kids have access to resources,” Mr Messer said.

“But this was taking it to the next level, I was running lessons online and live streaming.

“Then when we had our professional development at the end of term I shared with lots of other teachers who signed up to learn about Zoom including some of the more advanced features.”

“Coming from a science background I found it quite easy but there is a huge range of skills at a school in terms of using technology.”

Unley was fortunate in that most students were from families with good devices and broadband connections and they could adapt to online learning when COVID-19 cases affected a teacher and student in mid-March.

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This term, as the number of cases decline in SA and students return to classrooms, Unley has attendance levels above 90 per cent.

The school continues to apply rigorous precautions including ringing a bell so students wash their hands before going into a classroom and before and after recess and lunch, a ban on socialising around lockers and keeping at least 1.5m away from teachers.

“We’ve all learnt a lot,” Mr Messer said.

“Even though we’re not doing online lessons right now we might have to do it again — and now everyone’s got the skills.

“It has been a very positive learning experience for me and the staff”.

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