Back to school
Big smiles from pupils
Pupils have returned to school after an absence of almost five months due to the pandemic.
And they are adapting well to the new safety measures that have been put in place to limit the spread of coronavirus.
John Donnelly, headteacher at Crieff High School, said it was great to welcome young people back on campus last week.
He told the Herald: “Pupil attendance has been really positive and the wearing of school uniform has been exemplary.
“As well as enhanced hygiene measures as young people enter the building, travel around the building and within their classrooms, there has been an introduction of a oneway system and a phasing of intervals and lunchtimes to ensure that young people and staff are doing all they can to ensure the safety of one another.
“In particular, I’d like to thank our teaching staff and support staff for their role in supporting young people familiarise themselves with in-school protocols.
“I’m pleased to see how quickly our pupils have adapted to the new arrangements. These arrangements will remain under review and will be amended where necessary.”
Parents are reporting that pupils are pleased to be back but that there is still some trepidation.
Debbie Matthew, whose son Finlay has just started in first year, said: “He was really excited to go back and is enjoying being back at school. He’s missed his friends.
“I’m anxious about it though and I wasn’t sure if he should go initially.
“I’m still worried as I’m higher-risk and I’ve been at home the whole of lockdown. I still don’t really go out much. As a family we are very careful and mindful of what’s going on.”
It is the same at primary school. Karen Hapka, who has two daughters at Crieff Primary, said: “Both were very excited to be going back to school.
“Parents were more anxious than their children about them returning but now we are very confident that school is doing the best it can to protect all pupils during these difficult times.”
Bonnie Grieve started primary one at Madderty and mum Katrina had more than the usual parental worries of sending their child off to school for the first time.
She said: “I was super nervous about Bonnie starting school as she had always been so clingy and far from independent when it came to trying new things.
“These worries were only exasperated by the fact she hadn’t been at nursery and been with me 24/7 for so long over the lockdown.
“But it just goes to show how resilient kids can be. She loves school. She was first through the door with a wave and a ‘bye mum’. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Katrina continued: “I was hugely worried about the lack of transition. The school put a transition visit in place and that day really made me feel at ease with the whole situation.
“I was reassured that the school was doing everything they could to keep everyone safe but also to keep things as normal as possible for the children.
“They seem to have found a good balance. I am grateful Bonnie is at a small rural school though.
“I don’t know if I would be as comfortable if she was in a big, campus-style school.”
Parents were more anxious than their children about them returning Karen Hapka