Jumping for joy!
‘NOTHING replaces in class learning,’ Horeswood NS principal Brian Flood happily reported after the first day back at school for his 285 pupils on Monday.
‘Everything went great and everyone was delighted. It’s great to see things returning slowly but surely after Christmas when we got such a shock with the high numbers. It’s nice to see the tide turning a little bit,’ Mr Flood said, adding that people still need to exercise caution.
Children were in their pods and playing separately throughout the day and staggered collection times remained in place. A colour coded system for infants was also used.
Mr Flood said there is a greater sense of awareness now about the transmission of Covid-19 and an onus on everyone, from parents, to the wider community to ensure numbers remain low in Co Wexford.
He said the teachers were like the children, all excited to be back. ‘ The enthusiasm is there but at the back of their minds they are a little bit cautious. They all have their own personal lives and they are all looking after people at home, some of whom may be vulnerable. Remote learning is not ideal. They were certainly putting the hours in. Everyone had to be flexible. With the help of God we’ll never have to face this again.’
Mr Flood said all teachers embraced whatever was asked of them, adding that the school did a mix of live Zoom classes and Seesaw. ‘It was amazing, we had a greater level of participation in Seesaw than in Zoom. Articles said people wanted live classes and they are fine if you are at home and you have two laptops and two separate spaces for children to learn in and parents who can be with them for the classes. There has to be a balance. Nothing replaces in class teaching. Having the children back in school; that is what people needed to realise.’
Ramsgrange NS principal Lorraine Kennedy said all of the children were absolutely delighted to be back in their classrooms on Monday morning. ‘So were we! They were thrilled to be there and there were no tears.’
The children found no changes to their classrooms and everything was as they left it on Christmas week. As 2nd and 3rd class pupils have the same teacher, 3rd class pupils also returned on Monday.
Ms Kennedy said teachers were happy to be back in the classroom as there is ‘ much less work’ than working from home, when days are longer.
‘ There were loads of smiles, even to see their teachers meant a lot. When they run in the gates it’s a good thing.’
Ms Kennedy said there is nothing like in class learning, as not all pupils will engage as well using technology. ‘Parents have to sit beside them (when they are on Zoom classes). You are conscious that parents are there as well and they wouldn’t interact the same as in class where it’s more relaxed.’
Pupils went home with no homework and got to enjoy the afternoon’s sunshine, those who weren’t too exhausted from the day’s excitement that is.