Parents oppose return-to-school plan as principals welcome the move
Some parents from Melbourne’s fringe have slammed the plan to return students to classrooms this month, refusing to send their children. But Whittlesea and Nillumbik principals have welcomed the move.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North. Followed categories will be added to My News.
School principals across Nillumbik and Whittlesea have welcomed Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcement to allow students back into classrooms.
But some confused parents say they will refuse to send their children back, claiming a term 2 return is “too soon” and risks the health of pupils.
“Why not just leave it as it is until next term, then start a fresh term 3,” mother Emma Moore asked.
“I’m not sending my two (children) back until next term.”
Mum-of-three Nadine McClintock said the only way to be safe was to stay home.
“There’s no way my grade 2 son is going to go back into the classroom when he knows his sister and brother in grades 4 and 6 are still at home,” she said.
“I’m finding it difficult to work a full-time job from home at the same time as home schooling three kids, but I’d rather that than have a situation like New York and London where there are tens-of-thousands dead.”
Under the return-to-school plan, students will head back to school in a staggered approach with Preps, Grade 1 and 2 and Year 11 and 12 students returning on May 26.
Year 3 to 10 students will return from June 9.
Mr Andrews said school drop-offs and pick-ups would be staggered, as would lunch breaks, to allow for social distancing and there would be no assemblies, sports, camps or excursions for term 2.
South Morang mother-of-four Vanessa Herbert said she was “in two minds”.
“The kids are ready to go back and certainly for their mental health it will work wonders,” she said.
“But if schools really are safe spaces now then why the staggered approach.
“Telling my kids this morning they weren’t all going back was very tricky — they are very confused.”
But Diamond Creek East Primary principal Rob Rostolis told the Leader he was pleased with the premier’s decision.
He said the return would allow for students to decrease time spent on screens and technology.
“Significant arrangements will need to be made with timetabling, staggering recess times and managing the physical distance of staff,” he said.
“In the first week back we will be encouraging students to reconnect with their teachers on a face-to-face level.
“In the following weeks we will continue our face-to-face learning while encouraging a decrease in screen time and will be asking parents to support us on this.
“We’ll also be focusing on assessing the numeracy and literacy of our students and making sure they are all learning at the growth we expect.”
MORE NEWS
HOW MELBOURNE’S SMALLEST SCHOOL COPES WITH REMOTE LEARNING
SCHOOL FINDS BRILLIANT WAY TO ‘REACH OUT’ TO STUDENTS
SOUTH MORANG MUM-OF-FOUR ON JUGGLING REMOTE LEARNING
Christmas Hills Primary acting principal Jacqui Abrahams said she would consider continuing “aspects of remote learning” during students’ return to school.
“We’ve been planning the transition back for some time and looking at what that means for our school community,” she said.
“We’ll be making sure that our parents feel supported during this change.
“As for staff, we have been reflecting on this time and looking at what aspects of remote learning have gone well and looking at ways we can continue some of that in the future learning experience.”
Ms Abrahams assured cleaners were on site every day disinfecting high touch points.
“Because we have such small class sizes, social distancing is not a problem,” she said.
“We will be monitoring pick-up and drop-off points and encouraging parents stay in their vehicles.”