Adelaide High School fourth to shut in two days amid Covid spike

It’s back to remote learning for a popular city high school, the fourth to close in a matter of days due to spiking Covid cases and isolation requirements.

A fourth school has closed its doors due to the a spike in Covid cases, as principals and teachers try to deal with the increasing number of close contacts recorded in the classroom.

Adelaide High School announced in an email sent to families that it would shut next week due to an increase in positive Covid-19 cases in the school community.

“We have considered the impact of ongoing positive cases and isolation requirements emerging among staff and students over the last seven days, and we have decided to temporarily move to remote learning as a way of reducing the spread of the virus,” principal Cezanne Green said in the email.

The closure comes after three schools also shut their doors due to understaffing because of Covid.

Paralowie School closed for two days, with its 1463 primary and secondary students expected to return to classrooms next week.

The Education Department on Thursday said two other schools had also closed – but did not clarify which ones. Students at those schools would learn remotely until Monday.

Ms Green told The Advertiser the school had made the decision to close because it had a “significant number of staff and students affected by Covid”.

“Every decision is around maximising duty of care and safety and really ensuring that we can operate and the school and we’re at the point where we just have to move to remote learning,” Ms Green said.

“It is incredible times and there is such a significant disruption (to education) generally because of Covid … it is really difficult to provide quality learning when you’ve got students at home and at school.

“It’s case-by-case and we’ve got to look at absolutely every part of the situation to make the decision that is right for that sight.’

Ms Green said she was unsure if a “circuit-breaker” closure of all schools in the state would help alleviate the pressure on the education department.

Premier Peter Malinauskas today said he wouldn’t support a blanket closure of schools.

“Closing down school for a week is a big deal,” he said ahead of leading the first Emergency Management Council meeting.

“There is a legitimate concern, our teachers are under the pump.

“We need to think these things through very carefully, not just through the perspective of teachers, but parents and students alike.”

The school will be closed from March 28 to April 1 but will remain open to children of essential workers.