Toorak College in Mt Eliza changing school term to stop girls learning too quickly at home
Senior students at a Mornington Peninsula private school are being sent to time-out this weekend. And it’s not a punishment but a solution to a surprising outcome of home learning.
South East
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Extra long weekends are being scheduled at an elite Mornington Peninsula school to “pace” senior students racing ahead in their studies.
Toorak College made the extraordinary decision after seeing how quickly Year 11 and 12 students had adapted to online learning.
“They’re absolutely killing it,” principal Kristy Kendall said.
“Instead of worrying about how we’re going to get them ready for their end of year exams, we’re now looking at how we can pace them.”
The State Government recently announced that end of year exams traditionally held in November would be delayed until at least December.
Ms Kendall, who teaches Year 12 and Year 9 psychology, said there was now a danger the longer year would create extra pressure for VCE students.
“That’s another month of stress and we need to find ways to alleviate that,” Ms Kendall said.
Toorak consulted senior students before scheduling its first “study free” three-day break to be held this weekend – Saturday, May 2 to Monday May 4 inclusive.
Toorak shifted to remote and online learning on March 19, two days earlier than planned, after a parent tested positive to COVID-19.
Ms Kendall said the school was considering continuing some elements of the virtual classroom after the school reopened.
“We’re discovering some exciting benefits,” she said.
“I supervised a Year 9 psychology test and for the first time ever I could see what the students were writing in real time.
“I could support the students who were struggling by reminding them to focus on key words in the question and extend those who were excelling by suggesting they include more detail in their answers.”
Despite the advantages to online learning the school was ready to reopen and hopeful students would return en mass before the end of Term 2.
Ms Kendall said the school would follow advice from the State Government and Chief Medical Officer.
“We won’t be jumping the gun,” she said.
The school’s Early Learning Centre is still open and up to 80 per cent of children from about 75 families are attending.
Safety measure included daily temperature checks, youngsters spread over additional classrooms to allow for social distancing, extra cleaning and staff signing children in and out so parents do not enter the centre.
“We’re also talking to parents and staff to make sure they feel safe and comfortable,” Ms Kendall said.
“We’re confident we could roll out similar measures for all classes.”
Currently about 160 students attend the school regularly including those from 30 families with essential workers.
Federal Health Minister and Flinders MP Greg Hunt said schools were safe for children and should reopen when possible.
Mr Hunt said it was up to states when they lifted restrictions but insisted there was no medical reason for schools to remain closed.
“The medical advice is that it is safe for schools to go back, but one of the things that each state and territory is looking at is the safety of their teachers,” Mr Hunt said on 3AW.
“Each state and territory is understandably wanting to make sure that conditions for teachers are safe.
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“We’re encouraging schools to return.
“Schools are a safe environment for children.”
But Education Minister James Merlino recently rejected the push in a pointed tweet.
“Let me be very clear, particularly to the federal government who do not run any schools, we will only transition back to face-to-face teaching for all students when that is the advice of the Victorian Chief Health Officer,” he said.
“Not a moment before.”