Victorian students head back to the classroom today after

In positive news for the state, no new coronavirus cases were recorded yesterday. It comes as weeks of remote learning ends as the remaining few year levels returned to classrooms this morning.

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There were no new cases of coronavirus in Victoria yesterday.

The state’s total number of cases remains at 1687 and 1602 people have recovered from the virus.

There are seven people in hospital, including one patient in intensive care.

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said recording zero cases today was encouraging, but the pandemic was far from over and now was not the time to be complacent.

“Thanks to Victorians playing their part, staying at home and getting tested, we have made some great progress in slowing the spread of coronavirus,” he said.

There have been 178 cases acquired through an unknown community transmission.

Prof Sutton said the low rate of community transmission was the reason some restrictions had been eased.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday welcomed the lower number of cases but warned the virus was still out in the community.

He said the state government and health authorities would keep a close eye on infections over the next two weeks, with any spike from weekend protests expected to be noticeable before restrictions are further lifted on June 22.

“I didn’t want people to go,” he said.

“I don’t think it was a responsible thing to do. It was the wrong thing to do.

“But if I could say one positive thing about it at least it was peaceful.

“Let’s be guided by the data that’s why we’re doing so much testing.

“If you’ve got even mild symptoms come forward and get tested.”

Mr Andrews said he believed Victorians were largely following the rules after a busy long weekend in which Rye pier was shut down because of large crowds.

“Following expert advice has got us into this very enviable position, albeit a frustrating position I know that,” he said.

“But this is so much better than so many other parts of the world who have been overrun by this.”

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KIDS HEAD BACK TO CLASSROOMS

Home schooling is over as 600,000 students return today, with new reports to inform parents on how their children fared with remote learning.

Pupils from Grade 3 to Year 10 rejoin other year levels at schools across the state, ending eight weeks of distance education in Victoria.

Modified semester 1 student reports will include feedback on how pupils coped with school from home, commenting on their adjustment to being away from teachers and classmates.

Reports are expected to be scaled back, with fewer assessments completed by most students while away from classrooms.

Families with siblings divided by staggered returns will be reunited today, while Year 7 pupils will be back at high schools they have now spent more time learning away from than in.

Year 7 student Maddy Carter said some pupils at Forest Hill College were yet to meet, as they had seven weeks together in term 1 and had since spent eight weeks apart.

“I don’t know everyone in our year level because there’s a lot of us — we have five Year 7 classes,” she said.

“It will definitely be good to see everyone.”

Classmate Felix Rodrigues was excited to get back because he was “really sick of online learning”, but noted “you can’t do school in your pyjamas anymore”.

The only thing Jennifer Schutz, 13, wasn’t looking forward to was the tests — many schools held back assessment for when pupils returned.

Mum Libby Coviello will have all her boys back at Our Lady of the Pines Primary in Donvale when older brothers Luke, 9, and Liam, 11, rejoin Paddy, in Prep.

“I’ve really enjoyed having them home — it’s been lovely having a slower pace and seeing how the kids undertake their work,” she said.

Forest Hill College students were excited to be back at school. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Principal Brendan Keeling said teachers had worked incredibly hard during remote learning, making 56,000 comments on students’ tasks in that time.

Education Minister James Merlino has invited students and parents, along with school staff, to share their insights on remote learning before an education summit in July.

“We know that there have been many positives from this experience, and we have a responsibility to learn from them,” he said.

SCHOOL MISSED PER STATE

Maximum amount of time spent away from campuses

VIC — 8 weeks

ACT — 8 weeks**

NSW — 7 weeks (pupils went back one day a week after five weeks)

TAS — 7 weeks*

QLD — 5 weeks

SA — 1 week*

WA — 1 week*

NT — 1 week*

*Term 1 holidays brought forward by a week

**Term 1 holidays brought forward by three weeks