SA schools closed except for children of essential workers

Students will have a few days to catch up on work – or chill out – at home as teachers prepare to move lessons online next week.

Schools are moving quickly to revive online teaching plans but most students will have at least Thursday and Friday without formal lessons.

Universities have postponed exams and locked down campuses.

Under restrictions announced yesterday, only the children of essential workers and vulnerable children will be able to attend school, preschool or childcare.

Skeleton staff will supervise those students but all others must stay at home.

“All students have been asked to take home school laptops or devices, books and anything they need to continue their learning from home,” an Education Department spokesman said.

“More information on learning programs will be provided early next week, as we work our way through the new COVID-19 Directions.”

Most government schools are likely to resume online teaching by Wednesday.

A similar message was sent by Catholic Education SA to parents, saying the rest of this week would be taken as “school closure days and, as such, no online learning will be provided”.

Catholic Education would provide further advice on Thursday.

Cindy Groth, parent of Parkside Primary students Eva and Ruby, said she was anxious about the closure going longer than six days.

“But I fully support the decision,” she said.

Working as a contractor, she is able to stay home and while keeping up with schooling Years 2 and 6 was challenging the most important thing would be ensuring the children didn’t feel too stressed.

Cindy Groth and daughters Eva, 8, and Ruby, 11, at Parkside Primary School. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Independent schools vary but most were taking closure days, regrouping for lessons next week.

Seymour instructed girls to work independently on assessments and projects this week.

Scotch activated plans for different year levels. Year 10s were already in an online phase and Year 11s organised for online exams on Monday.

“We believe that students will need to have experience of working from home – the discipline, the need to manage the wellbeing challenges, the delivery of tasks without a teacher standing over you, the adoption of a strong home working routine – all as part of their preparation for a professional life,” Scotch principal John Newton said.

Walford was set for remote learning from Monday.

Westminster has kicked over to its online delivery from Thursday.

The SACE Board said with Year 12 exams complete, results will not be delayed,

“Marking and moderation was already moved to an online process,” SACE Board chief executive Martin Westwell said.

“Students will get their results on 15 December as planned.

“The learning for Year 11 students is also almost complete and schools are working on providing their Stage 1 results.”

Some schools were forced to postpone remaining Year 11 assessments.

The school year is due to end on Friday December 11.

Schoolies events on the South Coast were already cancelled and the new restrictions will prevent young people holidaying there independently.

Australian Childcare Alliance SA president Kerry Mahony said centres would remain open and operators would trust parents to abide by the essential workers ruling.

“No child should be turned away,” he said.

“We can’t cherry pick who is and isn’t eligible.”

Universities also have been ordered closed.

Adelaide University and UniSA postponed exams which were to be run online.

Flinders University had exams scheduled on campus and these also were postponed.

“On campus tutorials, workshops and practicals are suspended,” deputy vice-chancellor (students) Clare Pollock said.

Most public events have been cancelled or postponed, including graduation celebrations which had been planned at Flinders next week.

Adelaide University will continue online lectures but UniSA has shut that option until mid next week.

Uni student placements have been suspended unless required by SA Health.

Some students are assisting with contact tracing and other vital work.