No set back to school date yet for Shelford, Kilvington but students ready to return
Shelford Girls’ Grammar principal has promised “a safe and orderly” return to school for students but said at-home classes may not be a thing of the past just yet.
Inner South
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Students at public schools across the state will start heading back to school from May 26 but independent schools in the Melbourne’s inner south haven’t settled on a return date yet.
Premier Daniel Andrews today announced a two-stage approach to returning to classrooms, with lunch and recess and drop off and pick up times to be staggered to allow for social distancing.
Catholic and independent schools are expected to follow suit but are not forced to follow the State’s timeline.
Shelford Girls’ Grammar principal Katrina Brennan has not confirmed a return date but said students and staff would head back “in a safe and orderly manner” over the coming months.
She has not ruled out some classes continuing as remotely.
“We may have a situation where, following a period at school, we are required to be at home and to return to a remote learning model,” she said.
“Our adaptability may be tested but we have proven the strength of our community to be as one and to work together for the good of our students.”
Parent Fiona Harris, who has two daughters at Shelford, said her girls were desperate to return to campus-based learning.
“They heard the announcement this morning and were so excited — they’re ready to go back and we’re ready for them to go back,” she said.
“If (Daniel Andrews) says it’s okay to go back, then that’s what we want and I think there’d be an outcry if Shelford didn’t go back then.
“Of course, we don’t want anyone to get sick … but my fear is that the girls are so excited and happy they have a date now and then the school says ‘not yet’.
“Or, on the other hand, everyone goes back to school and there’s another outbreak and they get told to work from home again.
“It’s impossible for girls that age to social distance.”
Ms Harris said the teachers and school had been “fantastic” during the COVID-19 lockdown but her daughters were ready to sit in a classroom again with their friends.
“Seeing how much they’re missing their friends has been the hardest part of this for me, as a parent,” she said.
“Especially our youngest, she just started Year 7 this year and was so excited and then this happened and she’s found it really tough and that breaks my heart.”
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Ms Brennan said while the school had adapted its online approach to focus on the wellbeing of students, including less screen time and more breaks between classes, the bricks and mortar model couldn’t be replaced.
“There will be lessons we take from the remote learning into our future … (but) I believe more strongly than ever that schools are places where people are of extreme importance,” she said.
“You cannot replace a community of people learning, growing, playing and developing with an online version.”
Kilvington Grammar in Ormond is also working out the details of its return to school plan and has not yet confirmed dates.