Parents’ relief as 35 weeks of remote learning ends, but Covid closures continue

Despite being only a few weeks into term 4, more than 200 schools have been hit by Covid closures, with Trinity Grammar among the latest.

More than 200 Victorian schools have been hit by Covid closures already in term 4.

Schools are also now being hit by outbreaks multiple times after cases earlier in the year.

Trinity Grammar in Kew was the site of a large Covid cluster mid-year and was closed on Monday after a Covid-positive year 7 student attended the campus.

Parents were told by email at 1.15am on Monday.

The senior campus was closed and students reverted to remote learning.

Close contacts will be identified and unvaccinated students will have to isolate for 14 days and vaccinated students for seven.

Latest figures of school closures in Victoria, Australia. pic.twitter.com/2JSDS8PaPj

— Committee for Public Education (@CFPE_Australia) October 24, 2021

Term 4, school closures Victoria, Australia pic.twitter.com/xaMEfN4zKW

— Committee for Public Education (@CFPE_Australia) October 23, 2021

Year 12 students, who are due to start exams on Wednesday, have been working from home on Swot Vac.

St Albans Meadows Primary also closed its doors on Monday because of a Covid-affected staff member.

The primary school, the site of an outbreak mid-year, has identified close contacts, including students in four separate rooms.

While vaccinated staff contacts will be back at school on Thursday after a negative test, the unvaccinated students will miss class until November 4.

Aitken Hill Primary in Craigieburn was also closed on Monday.

The Department of Education website lists 23 schools that are closed or partially closed.

But the Herald Sun has learnt of others, including Merriang Special School, The King David School, Marymede Catholic College, St Brendan’s Lakes Entrance, St Therese’s Primary in Bendigo and Roslyn Primary in Geelong.

The Committee for Public Education is compiling school closures and reports that 239 schools have been closed this term.

There are also 260 childcare centres that are not operating fully according to the Department of Education.

Nearly a million jubilant Victorian school kids are due to be returning to the classroom from Monday next week after 35 long weeks of learning from home this year.

Sisters Kaya and Aisha Abdi are jumping for joy that school is returning. Picture: Josie Hayden

Education Minister James Merlino said he “couldn’t be more excited to see all Victorian students getting back into the classroom full-time well ahead of schedule”.

The announcement was met with delight and relief from parents and students.

Mother and advocate Michaela Fox from Girls Thriving said students were delighted “to be reunited with their friends and teachers and learning face-to-face”.

“The past two years have been tough,” she said.

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly is working with the states and medical experts to define protocols for schools with a positive Covid-19 case.

In the meantime, concerns remain about the Covid-safe measures in schools.

Department of Education figures show just 135 of 1500 state schools have received Samsung air ventilators, although thousands more are arriving each week. Hotspot schools have been prioritised.

Rapid antigen testing is being trialled but won’t be in place when students return full time – either on November 1 or 3, depending on the school.

The Herald Sun can also reveal students who repeatedly flout mask rules will face school disciplinary procedures such as detention. The Department of Education has said such consequences would only occur after discussions with parents if the mask requirement is deliberately and persistently flouted.

Face masks are required for all students in year 3 and above, and strongly recommended for prep to year 2.

The Victorian government is working on its mask policy for schools when the state hits 90 per cent vaccination, expected to be in a month’s time. By then, adults will only have to cover their faces in high-risk settings, but students may be required to until a vaccine is approved for under 12s.

Pascoe Vale South mother of two Jaime Clarke she was excited but nervous about the return to school of daughters Kaya, 6, and Aisha, 7.

“It’s hard because it’s not freedom because you could get a call the school has a case and you have to pick them up again,” Ms Clarke said.

Moran Dvir from the Shadow Pandemic lobby group said schools “should be last to close and first to open and stay open”.

Infectious diseases expert Dr Nick Coatsworth said Melbourne was “one of the only places in the world with vaccination rates that high that is still closing schools”.

“I do hope that there is a very rapid change,” he said.