Schools share new way of operating as students return

From temperatures taken at the gate, to water bubblers being out of bounds, Brisbane schools have shared everything parents and students need to know before school goes back tomorrow. SEE THE FULL LIST

ROUTINE might be back for students in Kindergarten, Prep and Years 1, 11 and 12 as they return to school from tomorrow, but families should prepare for a whole new kind of normal.

Schools across Greater Brisbane will roll out a series of never before seen measures to keep kids safe in the Covid-19 pandemic, which means there is plenty for parents and children to familiarise themselves with before Monday morning.

According to the Queensland Department of Education, parents will not be allowed to gather in or around school grounds, car parks or at the school gate when dropping off or collecting their children.

Some older students will be asked to maintain social distancing at schools however no official health advice has been issued requiring students to do so in the classroom.

“Parents should use stop, drop and go or similar facilities rather than walking their children into school,” the department says.

While physical distancing of 1.5 metres will be required by all adults, including teachers, health guidelines state students do not have to abide by the rule during classroom activities.

Students will be asked to regularly wash their hands or use hand sanitiser, and there will be a crackdown on covering coughs and sneezes.

Students can expect to see more cleaning going on around them with regular cleaning of often touched surfaces like light switches and door handles to happen.

The department has also advised students and staff who are unwell not attend school.

Assemblies will be taken online through the use of video conferencing.

And for those families who would rather their children stay at home a little longer the department says that’s okay, providing they are still learning.

Students will be asked to wash their hands frequently.

“This is an acceptable decision and your child won’t be marked as being absent, rather that they are learning from home,” they said.

“In these cases, parents and carers remain responsible for their children. This includes ensuring their children stay at home and continue their learning by accessing material such as those provided for parents on the learning@home website.

“As is currently the case, parents will be required to communicate with the school about their child’s absence from school.”

Some schools may also take learning outside and stagger lunch breaks to prevent large gatherings of students.

Here’s what Brisbane schools will be doing as students return from tomorrow:

Clayfield College, Clayfield

Drop off and collections:

The school has introduced two designated drop off and pick up areas, to separate primary and secondary year levels. Parents will be asked to stay in their cars. Teachers will be there to greet students.

Cleaning:

Cleaning staff will be present all day, cleaning surfaces like balustrading and water filters, while toilets and desks will be wiped continually.

What will change:

Staff must maintain social distance, and students will be encouraged to do so also and will be encouraged to wash their hands frequently. Parents will be called to collect unwell students.

Iona College, Wynnum West

Drop off and collection:

Iona’s drop off and pick up procedures will not need to change as all distancing restrictions were already in place.

Cleaning:

The College has been thoroughly cleaned during the student absence and regular cleaning has been increased with sanitizers, additional soap and hygiene procedures in place.

What will change:

Students can expect a warm and enthusiastic welcome back as well as a continued focus on personal and communal hygiene, both at school and also in the wider community.

As the school is on a large property, students will be spread further throughout the college for lunch breaks.

What students need to bring:

Students are asked to bring their required items for school each day and there are no new regulations of what not to bring.

The Lakes College, North Lakes

Drop off and collection:

Primary students will follow a structured process for arrivals and departures each day to support increased hygiene and social distancing measures.

The students have their temperature taken and say goodbye to parents before entering the campus.

Years 11 and 12 students will also have their temperature taken Monday and will be encouraged to observe the same social distancing expectations as adults due.

Parent and visitor access will be restricted at least until the end of term.

Cleaning:

The college will get an intensive clean this weekend which includes fogging of all areas.

The normal cleaning schedule will return on Monday along with the continuation of additional regular cleaning of toilets and play equipment after each break time.

What will change:

The main differences will be arrival and departure routines.

Other changes include, staggered play and eating times, more sanitiser stations around the playgrounds, frequent reminders to wash hands thoroughly, no loose parts play in Prep, staggered use of lockers, avoiding close proximity queuing during lesson transitions, not as many hugs from teachers and secondary students being allowed to wear their sports uniform to and from school rather than change at school.

What do students need to bring?

Any materials students were given to support learning at home will come back with them to school on Monday.

Redlands College, Wellington Point

Drop off and collection:

Parents will continue to use the college’s existing “kiss and drop” zone at the front of the school and front carpark, for drop offs and pick ups.

Parents of students in Junior School who collect their children from the covered area will be required to maintain social distancing of 1.5m.

Cleaning:

The College has an on-campus cleaner who is constantly sanitising and disinfecting high-touch areas during the day, including door handles, seats, tables and handrails. Each classroom has been provided with AirX Super Spray disinfectant and paper towels, which are used by staff to wipe down hard surfaces as required during the day. Each night, cleaning staff will do an intensive clean of classrooms and staffrooms.

What will change?

Doors and windows have been opened in classrooms to increase natural airflow, tables and seating arrangements have been expanded where practical in classrooms and some rooms have been changed to increase the available space for students.

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, Ascot

Drop off and collection:

Advice has been given to parents they must not gather in and around school grounds; parents have been asked not to walk their children into the school buildings or classroom. Staff will be on hand to ensure a smooth handover of the younger students.

Cleaning:

Hand sanitisers and disinfectant wipes or spray will be placed in all classrooms.

Students will wipe down their desks in between classes. Sprays and wipes will be available in staffrooms as well.

All classroom windows will be open (in rooms where windows can be opened) to increase airflow.

Increased cleaning of toilets and high touch surfaces.

What will change:

Social distancing is not required in the classroom, however during break time students will be supervised and reminded by staff, signs are up around the school near seating to remind students of social distancing, markings have been placed on benches or on the ground to indicate correct social distancing, and some seating has been removed to ensure suitable spacing.

What do students need to bring?

Students need to bring their own water bottles as the bubblers will be out of bounds. Free cups of water will be available from a central place.

St Paul’s Lutheran College, Caboolture

Drop off and collection:

Primary school students are to be dropped off by parents in the western carpark, in the pick up/drop off zone. Students will then walk into the campus. If parents are also dropping off Kindergarten children, these parents can park outside the Kindy and have their school age students walk onto the campus from the Kindy carpark, while parents sign their other children into Kindy.

Cleaning:

Daily cleaning of every classroom, office and toilet blocks will continue and there will also be an increase in the cleaning of door handles and high use surfaces in our buildings.

The school’s team of learning assistants and teachers will clean high use areas down throughout the day. Every classroom is supplied with cleaning utensils and sanitiser products for those “ad hoc” moments during the day.

Fixed playground equipment remains out of bounds but sporting equipment will be available during lunch breaks. The gear will be cleaned and disinfected at the end of each play period. Each year level will utilise the school’s large grounds to spread out during play times.

What will change:

Social distancing will be monitored by staff. Sick children will be asked not to attend school.

What do students need to bring?

Students need to bring in their brown learning bags that were issued with pre-lock down for the online learning. Students are also to bring in their own water bottles.

St Rita’s College, Clayfield

Drop offs and collection:

Students will be welcomed with a surprise social-distanced guard of honour by staff Monday.

Social distancing by all adults will be a priority with staff and parents asked not to congregate in areas inside or around the college.

Parents are asked to stay in their cars.

Any parent or guardian needing to visit the campus will be asked to call ahead.

Cleaning:

The entire college will be cleaned daily. Desks and chairs will be cleaned by students at the end of each class. Used wipes will be placed in dedicated bins which are cleared from areas of the college several times daily. Toilet areas will be cleaned at the end of each break, additional to the general routine. All touch points of the college – such as doors, desks, seating, benches, telephones etc will be cleaned frequently.

What will change:

Students will follow the current learning at home timetable which includes time at the end of each lesson for each desk and chair to be cleaned. The classroom teacher will lead this process and infographics are provided in each classroom. Social distancing rules will apply wherever possible. House Group will continue to be held online each day to accommodate those on campus and those off campus. No assemblies or large gatherings will be held for the ensuing weeks.

Accessible Lunchtime and Afternoon Tea areas of the College will be reduced so staff can supervise social distancing.

Protective screens for reception areas and the College Pantry will be in place.

Sandgate District State High School, Deagon

Drop off and collection:

Year 11 and 12 students are expected to at school by 8.40am each day.

What will change:

Teachers will only be doing face-to-face lessons for Years 11 and 12, with the other year levels still undertaking the learning at home process.

The school canteen will not re-open on Monday, May 11 (anticipate May 25).

Cleaning:

The school will provide extra soap, water and hand sanitiser to promote ongoing hygiene.

What students need to bring:

All students will need to bring food with them. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle to avoid leaning into water bubblers unnecessarily.

Wavell State High School, Wavell Heights

What will change:

Staff and parents will need to ensure social distancing between all adults in and around the school.

Children will need to ensure they continue to exercise good health and hygiene including washing hands during breaks.

Read next:

‘Second class’ MP blasts decision to keep Years 2-10 home

Students unimpressed by work from home uniform policy

Essential worker mother had to prove her job to school