Schools keeping some changes after lockdown

While lockdown was a tough experience for students, teachers and parents alike, there are some changes schools are keen to keep.

Charlie, 6, and Charli, 6, are back at school after lockdown. Picture: Jay Town

Forced lockdown has transformed some schools and they’re never looking back.

Parents will have fewer reasons to step foot on campuses, students are being called on to boost their independence and new teaching roles have even been created in the wake of COVID closures.

Some schools are keeping their virtual parent-teacher meetings, info nights are staying online and students are turning into production crews and capturing assemblies for their communities to watch from the computer.

Leongatha Primary principal Dorathae Coghlan said the ban on parents entering school grounds during the pandemic forced children to walk to campus alone.

“What we found was little preps who were really nervous before, they’ve actually really grown,” she said, confirming that the school’s drop-and-go system was there to stay.

“We won’t be going back — we’re seeing more independence.

“It was something I was thrilled to see.”

The school’s virtual assemblies — started during lockdown with teachers filming themselves acting out skits — started as a way to pass on messages and keep families feeling connected.

But now the school has created a performing arts and multimedia role to help students create a weekly TV show and film assembly to keep up with their digital literacy.

“The children mic me up and have a camera ready, they run it all, they go around to teachers and ask them what they’re up to,” she said.

“It’s something students have loved, so we’re putting a teacher in that role.”

Schools will be keeping some lockdown-era tools. Picture: Jay Town

Ivanhoe East Primary principal Justine Mackey set up a dedicated web page for prep’s transition to primary school — something she said they were keeping on.

“The biggest difference for us is how we engage with our community,” she said.

Mrs Mackey said she saw her role change during lockdown, and became a guide who offered parents information and reassurance.

She created surveys for families to get snap feedback on remote learning programs, and will keep asking parents their thoughts.

Brighton Primary surveyed its parents and two in three said they were keen to keep the option of online parent-teacher conferences.

Next year, in addition to face-to-face meetings, busy parents will be able to check in with their kids’ teachers through Zoom.

Melbourne University’s deputy dean of the Graduate School of Education, Prof Janet Clinton, said schools’ closure meant “teachers and schools have really welcomed parents in”.

“Our community, our parents have learned the language of schools,” she said.

“For most parents, there’s been this incredible collaboration we haven’t seen before.

“They’re the things we need to hold onto.”

She said some schools would be keen to “go back to normal”, but warned that would be “a big mistake”.

“Please don’t go back to normal,” she said.

“This innovation has really become a way of working — let’s keep doing this.”

@ashargoon