When Mackay students are heading back to school

Queensland’s Education Minister confirms all students will return to classrooms with extra measures in place

Seaforth State School welcomes back its preppies and year one students (from front): Phoebe Doumergue, Roco Carey, Isabella Sheriden, Sophie Broekman, Knox Chidley, Nicolas Doumergue, Caitlin Pearce, Imogen du-Plessis, Michael Mears, Flynn Kelly and Nate Hocking with teachers Lara Wright and Justine Mayes. Picture: Contributed.

QUEENSLAND students from years two to 10 will return to school on Monday, May 25.

BREAKING: From Monday, May 25, remaining Queensland students can head back to school.

This is possible given the low transmission rates in Queensland and I want to thank all Queenslanders for helping us smash the curve. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/nOCclIQDhW

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) May 15, 2020

State Education Minister Grace Grace made the announcement today, crediting the successful staged return of Kindergarten, Prep, Year 1, 11 and 12 students.

- Free book to help young kids understand COVID-19

- Hundreds of Mackay students head back to class

Across Mackay, staff excitedly welcomed back the students who had been allowed to return on Monday after weeks of homeschooling.

TOGETHER AGAIN: St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School Year 1 teachers Hayley Saye (top), Joanne Stark (bottom left) and Kathy Douglas (bottom right) along with teacher aide Kerri Day welcome back their Year 1 students after weeks of homeschooling due to coronavirus restrictions. Picture: Contributed.

St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School assistant principal administration Mary Oxenham said they greeted their students with balloons at the gate, big banners and a “welcome back” message written with chalk.

WELCOME BACK: St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School Year 1 teachers Joanne Stark, Haley Saye and Kathy Douglas were excited to welcome back their students. Picture: Contributed.

Staff at Seaforth State School said they were excited to see “a little bit of normalcy” with the return of their Prep and Year One students.

SCHOOL’S BACK: Seaforth State School preppies and year one students (from front): Phoebe Doumergue, Roco Carey, Isabella Sheriden, Sophie Broekman, Knox Chidley, Nicolas Doumergue, Caitlin Pearce, Imogen du-Plessis, Michael Mears, Flynn Kelly and Nate Hocking with teachers Lara Wright and Justine Mayes. Picture: Contributed.

Ms Grace said parents and carers had done an excellent job this week but there would be new guidelines when years 2-10 return on May 25.

“Can I thank teachers and students who have worked very well together understanding that we are in unprecedented times in this world health pandemic,” Ms Grace said.

“Extra hygiene and extra cleaning are still in place, we have extra cleaners coming every day to ensure high-traffic areas like light switches (and) obviously toilet facilities are all cleaned and kept hygienic.”

Pioneer High School students Brandon Cash, Chris Malone and Nikkita Weston with Head of Special Education Laura Theodore. Picture: Tony Martin

Ms Grace said social distancing wasn’t required for students but added schools were trying to implement smaller classroom sizes where possible.

“Schools are implementing a number of strategies - staggered start and finish times, staggered lunch times, and those strategies this week have worked very well,” she said.

She also pleaded with Queensland parents and school staff to stay home if they were sick.

“Now is not the time to turn up to work or to send your child to school if they are not well,” she said.

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