What a return to onsite learning at school might look like
The road map out of restrictions and what it means for students has been revealed. But what will a day at school actually look like in term four? Here’s a guide to what might happen for primary and secondary students.
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School life beyond the stage four lockdown, should COVID-19 case numbers continue to fall, is becoming clearer.
We’ve long had a commitment from Education Minister James Merlino and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton that there will be a return to classes in term four.
But what will it look like? Here’s a guide based on what we know from Sunday’s announcement and what we’ve learned from our first return to onsite learning.
WHEN WILL KIDS RETURN?
In metropolitan Melbourne from October 12, the students returning to school are prep, Grade 1, Grade 2, Year 11, Year 12, Year 10s studying VCE or VCAL subjects and children at specialist schools.
But students from grade 3 to year 10 in metropolitan Melbourne will continue remote learning.
There is a chance for a staggered return for those year levels from October 26 if there is an average of less than five new cases a day.
In country Victoria, all students, from prep to year 12, will return to school the week of October 12.
HOW WILL STUDENTS GET TO SCHOOL?
SOME students will travel by private car to minimise risk of infection on public transport. Parents still working from home may have flexibility to transport students.
STUDENTS taking busy tram routes advised to wait for the next tram instead of squishing in to packed trams/trains. Better be late than infected.
DROP offs and kiss and go bays streamlined after earlier experience. Some schools have arranged drop off points away from the main campus for senior students. Many schools have staff directing traffic. Local council infringement officers and police, often called by schools, will keep a watch.
WHAT ABOUT ONCE THEY ARRIVE?
STAGGERED school start times to ensure everyone will not be arrive at the same time, causing a log jam and compromising physical distancing.
Different entrance/exit spots to so everyone is not going through the same gates. Families with multiple children at the one school will navigate different entry and exit spots and starting and finishing times.
PARENTS banned from entering school grounds. Must not congregate for the before and after school chinwags. All non essential staff banned. Any deliveries need to be carefully handled.
ENCOURAGE non-contact greetings such an arm taps.
Students temperature tested on arrival. This may be undertaken by staff or school nurse.
WHO WILL HAVE TO WEAR MASKS?
MASKS required for students aged 12 years and older. Children under the age of 12 do not have to wear a face covering but individual families can make their own decisions regarding their children.
Children aged 12 and over, attending primary school, do not need to wear a face covering at school.
Children under two years old should never wear a face covering due to choking and strangulation risk.
Not compulsory for teachers, educators and carers to wear face coverings while teaching or caring for children as they can interfere with clear communication. Teachers, educators and carers can choose to wear face coverings if they wish when in the classroom/facility or when teaching or providing care.
Teachers, educators and carers should wear face coverings in other areas of the school/facility when not teaching
DHHS exception including hearing issues or health issues such as asthma apply.
Children attending a specialist school do not have to wear as a mask. Unless otherwise arranged, students expected to provide their own masks.
HOW WILL CLASSES WORK?
STAGGERED access to lockers. Students to carry what they need each day to and from school, ensuring reduced need to access lockers. Should there be COVID-19 outbreak they will have most of their needs at home. On any given day they should try to carry what they need for the day in a smaller bag to cut locker trips.
HAND sanitiser placed around school in every occupied room. The department COVID-19 Safety Management Plans warns about the misuse of hand sanitiser such as ingestion.
Regular reminders about coughing in armpits and sneezing in tissues and immediately disposing of them.
Prompts for handwashing before and after eating. Younger students can work on 20 second hand wash songs. Prompts about not touching eyes, face and masks.
WHERE possible students distance within a class. Some teachers say this has not been possible in some classes. Promote fresh air flow indoors, weather permitting run classes outdoors.
Tailor classes to reduce the use of shared computers, class sets, musical equipment, and teaching and learning materials. If unavailable they need to be cleaned at the end of the class. Individuals need to exercise hand hygiene before and after handling equipment.
After class, the tables and high touch areas to be wiped down.
Consider the order and pace with which classes move from one class to the next.
In corridors or other shared areas institute direction arrows to police movement.
There should be limited interaction between different groups and classes. This will mean if there is a case contact tracing will be less difficult.
AUSTRALIAN Health Protection Principal Committee, recommendations from earlier this year. likely to continue including adapting activities so they don’t lead to mixing between classes and years, including reduced use of common areas and reduced after-school and inter-school activities.
WHAT ABOUT BREAK TIMES?
STAGGER break/recess/lunch times between classes to reduce intermingling.
Students will be required to practice physical distancing during recess and lunch breaks. “Teachers on yard duty won’t have their tape measures out, but we ask students to be mindful of this new directive,” one school warned.
STUDENTS should not use water fountains, instead having a reusable water bottle which they should not share.
DO not share food. Forget sending a food allergy acceptable birthday cake to kinder and don’t even think about a sneaky Uber Eats.
Some school canteens will change the way they operate, only allowing online orders for orderly collection at a specific time.
MOBILE phone bans in government schools and some individual private schools remain. People are used to regularly wipe their phones.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
ANYONE who is unwell — staff and students — encouraged to remain home or sent home if they become sick at school.
STAFF vigilant against anxious and aggressive parents and carers. Staff also urged to keep tabs on their own mental health and wellbeing.
Check in with students on their health and wellbeing. Emmaus College, for instance, asks students to use a red, yellow, green criteria. If they say they are feeling red the welfare team will follow up.
CHIEF Health Officer Prof. Brett Sutton, in his August 10 directive, said physical distancing was particularly important between adult to adult. Schools may to rejig how their staffroom and shared spaces operate. Staff may relocate to areas such as the library.
SCHOOLS to place signage and floor markers around school to remind everyone of the need to physical distance.
VCE STUDENTS
UNIFORMS: Some schools are being more flexible with uniform such as allowing Year 12s to wear their commemorative hoodie as they have lost so many of the rites of passage.
VCE exams under discussion, ensuring students can be spaced, wear masks and be in smaller groups.
STUDENTS will return to school onsite for their General Achievement Test.
SOME schools found benefits in working from home and may offer one day at home for senior students.
AFTER HOURS ACTIVITIES
PARENT teacher interviews and other events continue online.
School Christmas choirs, Kris Kringle, assemblies, valedictories, muck ups days and other events unlikely to proceed. Some will move online.
Inter-school sport unlikely to proceed but some associations are doing virtual competitions, individual challenges and schools are doing pre-season rowing training online.
REDUCED public access to high touch areas out of schools hours including rental for sports teams.
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