Mornington Peninsula schools still working on plans to allow students to return to classrooms safely
Mornington Peninsula educators are hard at work planning to welcome back students in two weeks. But one school is already ahead of the game with an early return scheduled and strict social distancing. Here’s how they’re doing it.
Under the return-to-school plan announced by Premier Daniel Andrews students will head back to the classroom in a staggered approach with Preps, Grade 1 and 2 and Year 11 and 12 students returning on May 26.
Year 3 to 10 will return from June 9.
At an elite private school in Mt Eliza, however, the schedule will look a little different.
Peninsula Grammar Deputy Principal – Learning and Teaching Lucy Gowdie said the school would welcome back students from Monday, May 25.
Preps, grade 1 and 2 and Year 12 would begin a day earlier than the region’s public schools.
Year 11 would return on Tuesday, May 26 and Year 4, 5, 7 and Year 9 would start on Monday June 1.
The remaining students in Year 3, 6, 8 and 10 would resume lessons at the campus on Tuesday, June 9
Ms Gowdie said the school had always planned to resume face-to-face lessons before the end of Term 2.
“With the uncertainty of the situation and the ever-changing landscape of it, we had always
prepared around a return date of June 1, with a commitment to our families to run our online
learning program for the duration of the term, regardless of any change,” she said.
Ms Gowdie said the large campus allowed for “discreet play areas” to provide spaces for children to play while still adhering to social distancing.
Breaks would be staggered as would pick ups and drops, she said.
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The announcement from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews seems to have caught many other schools by surprise.
Most schools contacted by Leader today were still finalising plans to safely open their doors.
Special schools, including Mornington Special Developmental School and Peninsula Specialist College will not be required to stagger the return of students.
All students at those schools will return on May 26.