Back to class
Dedication and commitment by teachers, administrative staff and parents has ensured the success of remote learning for students around West Gippsland this term. The Gazette last week visited Drouin West Primary School where students like prep Miranda Fullerton was hard at work in a quiet environment ahead of her classmates returning today.
Dedication and commitment by both teachers, administrative staff and parents ensured the success of remote learning by Drouin West Primary School, according to assistant principal Kerrie Wainwright.
When the Gazette visited last week the school was eerily quiet. Most of the school’s 236 students were learning at home.
There was a handful of students in some classrooms because their parents are essential workers.
Ms Wainwright said the system was working because everyone from teachers, administrative staff and parents wanted it to work.
“We are going really well and ensuring that everyone is being well supported,” she said.
From today grade prep and one will return to the classroom, while other grades will return from June 9.
Ms Wainwright said with help from the Education Department teachers had spent a lot of the school holidays preparing special lessons for remote learning and establishing online systems.
“It hasn’t been ideal, but everyone has taken it on and is making it work,” she said.
“It is important that people understand it can work. There has been a mixture of publicity, but I want people to understand that it can be okay.
“Our parents have been amazing and that it one of the reasons why we are going so well.
“Because of these positives it will make this community even stronger,” Ms Wainwright said.
Students attending school undertake the same program as those at home, but with assistance from a class teacher.
For students learning remotely parents collect tubs left at the front of the school or new work and leave completed work in tubs for correction and review.
The school has established a system for collection to ensure social distancing and hand sanitisation.
Other systems have been put in place for students in the classrooms. Fortunately, the school has hand basins outside classrooms and students are encouraged to regularly wash their hands.
They also have been taught the need for social distancing.
“We have much to be grateful for and even though it is a difficult time we can all find a way through because we are working together,” Ms Wainwright said.
The COVID-19 situation was best summed up by grade one student Harry Warden. Harry has had a mixture of remote learning and being at school because his mother is an essential part time worker.
When asked which he preferred he had high praise for his mother helping him learn at home but his first preference was to be at school.
“I like playing with my friends, but I’m not allowed to touch them,” he said.