Throsby School opens as ACT heads back to school

The nation’s capital has welcomed fresh-faced students and a new school as the 2022 academic year begins with parents cautiously optimistic about the end of remote learning.

The ACT has welcomed new students and a new campus, Throsby School in the Gungahlin region, when the 2022 academic year began on Monday.

Catering for students from preschool to Year 6, it is Canberra’s 90th public school and has received 197 enrolments for its inaugural year.

Throsby School principal Annamaria Zuffo could not contain her joy for being back on campus.

Yet she tempered her enthusiasm and said the school had a safety assurance plan ready to go in case Covid-19 struck the school.

Throsby School Principal Annamaria Zuffo. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

When asked about how they would assist students — especially those who have had their education disrupted by Covid-19 — in feeling settled at their new school, she said it was about frankly addressing questions children raised.

“Any child coming to school, they might feel nervous,” she said.

“For the first weeks of a new school year the focus is on relationships, building confidence in our children, learning about routines”

When asked if the school had received rapid antigen tests, Ms Zuffo said “we received them this morning” but said the school was organising how to distribute the tests to families.

Principal Annamaria Zuffo with parents Nathan and Jessica Ward and their children Toby (with Nathan) and Ethan with ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry anticipated more hurdles.

“I think everybody understands there will probably disruptions to the school year,” she said.

“We know face-to-face learning is the best education that could be provided for young people.”

Ms Berry said Covid-19-affected schools could potentially be forced to return to remote learning in the worst case scenario.

“That‘s the unfortunate circumstance that could arise, and we have a lot of contingencies in place to be able to manage that,” she said.

The Ward family is one of the first to enrol their children into Throsby School. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Parents and students were excited to finally attend school during drop off.

Mum Jessica Ward said it was exciting for her boys to start at a new school.

“We’ve watched Throsby School be built,” she said.

“For it to be finished and for us to finally get to come to it today is exciting.”

Her son, Year 1 student Ethan Ward, started at Throsby School on Monday with his younger brother Toby due to start preschool on Wednesday.

Ethan said he was looking forward to “seeing my friends, making new friends and going to a brand new school”.

Throsby School in Gungahlin has opened its doors for the first time. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Dad Nathan Ward said he was glad to be hanging up the teaching role.

“I was given some very frank feedback from Ethan earlier this year,” he said.

“(He told me) his teacher from school was a much better teacher than I am.”

Mrs Ward said while her youngsters did not exactly enjoy Covid-19 tests they were willing to put up with the discomfort.

“Ethan is not super keen on (Covid-19 tests), They’ve had a lot of Covid-19 tests over the last few years,’’ she said.

“It’s been nice when they’ve had the PCR tests when the staff do it.”

Year 5 student Noah Griinke and his mother Lena Kent at Throsby School. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Mum Lena Kent and Year 5 student Noah Griinke, who recently moved to Canberra from Brisbane, were cautiously optimistic about the school year.

“Unfortunately we got Covid-19 just after we moved here so we’ve been in isolation,” Ms Kent said.

Ms Kent she felt confident because of the high vaccination rate among five to 11-year-olds.

As of Monday, 61.19 per cent of Canberrans aged between five and 11 have at least one dose of the vaccine.

However, because he contracted Covid-19, her son will need to wait four more weeks until he is able to get his first vaccine.

Ms Kent said she was not worried about the distribution of RATs and said her son had no issues with Covid-19 tests.

Shy Noah said he was excited to go to Throsby and to interact with student and teachers in person.

Ms Kent said she and her family dealt with a period of schooling uncertainty before and made it through.

“There was a lot of uncertainty in our Queensland schools,” she said.

“However, we did some home schooling, which was a bit difficult while working from home, but we got there in the end.”