JUMP & SHOUT, HOME SCHOOL’S OUT
GEELONG students, teachers and parents will breathe a sigh of relief as they log on for their last day of remote schooling on Friday after more than 12 weeks of learning from home.
Ocean Grove mother of four Lucy Tucker has been managing her own study while supporting her children — aged 3, 6, 8 and 10 — during the remote learning period.
Ms Tucker said, although she was looking forward to the end of home schooling, she also felt “a bit nostalgic”.
“It’s been very busy, but I’m really going to miss them,” she said. “We’ve had a few curve balls come our way, so to sit here and say, ‘We did it, we got through it’, feels great.”
Geelong students first moved to remote learning in April for around six to eight weeks during Term 2 to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
Local schools shut again in August as Victoria battled a second wave of the virus.
Ms Tucker said the second round of home learning was “much easier” than the first.
“There were a lot of hurdles the first time and we were met with things we weren’t prepared for,” she said. “But this time around, the school has really focused on staggering things, wellbeing and mental health, and we’ve felt so supported.”
Ms Tucker said adhering to a routine, including scheduling makeshift school bells and getting the kids out of their pyjamas each day, was key to their productivity.
“It has been a learning experience,” she said. “I’ve taken a fair bit of gold from it, I’ve learnt a lot about myself and my children.”
Students at stand-alone regional primary schools will head back to the classroom from October 5.
Primary students in P-12 schools will return to on-site learning from October 8.
Schools could determine whether they returned all primary students at once, or staggered year levels in the first week of Term 4, the Education Department said.
Secondary students will return from October 12.
Whittington Primary School assistant principal Shannon Cormack said leaving behind remote learning was a “long time coming”.
“We can’t wait to get them back on site and get stuck back into learning,” she said.
“I think the kids have found a renewed excitement for their friendships, learning and being at school.
“We’re really excited to see the kids develop those friendships, relationships and interactions with friends and teachers that they’ve missed out on during this year.”