Schools all set to hit the books

IT will be a new world of social distancing when kids return to the classroom next week, but Queensland schools will do their part to help them adjust.

From this Monday, students of all year levels will head back on campuses at all Queensland state schools.

The State Government has identified schools as low risk in relation to the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing of 1.5m will be required for all adults and students will be encouraged to wash their hands frequently and to not attend if at all unwell.

The learning@home website will remain available and will continue to be updated throughout Term 2 for parents who choose to keep kids at home.

Cairns mum Lyn Lake said her two children, Ethan Handebo, 9, and Sienna Handebo, 8, adapted to the challenges of homeschooling nicely, but were nonetheless looking forward to returning to school.

“I’ve been splitting it with their dad, I’d do Mondays and Fridays and he’d do the other days,” she said.

“A few weeks ago he had to go back to work, so we started sending them back to school on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

“It was very good for Sienna, who was really missing being able to see her friends at school, so being able to go back full time will be great for her.”

Ms Lake said the challenge of tutoring and logging on to the online homeschooling resource each day made her appreciate teachers’ hard work.

“I don’t know how teachers do this with 25-plus kids,” she said. “We made sure they wouldn’t treat it as a holiday, but they usually had finished the work by lunchtime so they could get some outside play.

“They’ve already had their taste of school life under social distancing rules when they started going back twice a week, so they know what to expect. They’re up to speed on coronavirus and everything happening in the world.”

Far North School buses will be running normal services on Monday. FNQ Buslines operations manager Mark Johnson said if there were any changes, parents would be advised by text.