Students head back to St Pius X College Chatswood and discover COVID-19 has changed everything
They’ve been learning online for just five weeks but a lot can happen in such a short space of time.
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Monday saw St Pius X College Chatswood students return to school after five weeks of online learning during the COVID-19 19 shutdown.
The staggered return to school saw Years 12, seven and five students back in class on Monday alongside their teachers.
Each day will see a different year group attend face-to-face however, Year 12 will be attending every day to ensure focus can be maintained with their HSC studies.
Although the Prime Minister and NSW Government have made it very clear that the 1.5m and 4m2 social distancing rules do not apply in schools, the College, where possible, is keeping students at a reasonable separation through moving desks apart, marking out on the floor spacing requirements and not undertaking large group gatherings such as assemblies.
Like most schools a crew of cleaners has been maintaining a particularly rigorous program of cleaning on the campus and hygiene for all.
Like so many public spaces right now, the smell of sanitiser is everywhere.
When the doors opened on Monday, College Principal John Couani was there to greet students while dispensing hand sanitiser and individually reminding the boys of their responsibility to maintain safe distancing and good hygiene practices.
The College had nearly full attendance for those years returning to face-to-face teaching. This confirms parents’ support of the College’s comprehensive return to school policies and procedures.
“It was great to have the boys back to school and although there were a few nervous young ones,” said Principal Couani.
Overall the boys were exited to be back with many commenting on how much they had missed school. College life is certainly different under COVID-19 19 but the essential elements of learning continue.
The experience of returning to school reminds us how vibrant life can be once the community is together again.”