Sunraysia students still in dark on return to school

ANXIOUS students, teachers and parents across the region remain in limbo just two weeks out from the school year’s scheduled start, as they await news on whether COVID-19 will disrupt face-to-face learning.

While Victorian Deputy Premier James Merlino insisted this week that “no one is talking about remote learning”, schools in Sunraysia are yet to be advised by the Government on whether the school year will start in classrooms.

Ranfurly Primary School principal Dennis Mitchell hoped he would be provided with an update in the coming days.

“The community has heightened anxiety around accelerating (COVID-19 case) numbers so it would be terrific if our education system and government were able to tell parents and our professional teachers what is going to happen in the next fortnight,” he said.

“We have received zero communication on our system on whether school will resume on time or not.

“We would really love to know what is going on.”

With no news on remote learning, Nichols Point Primary School principal Dan Holy said staff were preparing as they usually would for face-to-face learning.

“I haven’t heard anything so it’s business as usual for us as far as I am aware at this stage,” he said.

“Things are changing that rapidly, but for us it’s about making sure that transition for the new preps is the best and for our kids returning to school, we are there to support them and their families as well.

“As far as we are aware the government is planning that we are going back and we are as well. We are preparing to be ready for the kids and do the best we can.”

The government’s most recent comments on the issue were made by Mr Merlino on Wednesday.

“No one is talking about lockdown, no one is talking about remote learning,” he said.

“I want every child back at school day one term one and we will be making sure that that is the case.

“We made a commitment to the people of Victoria – get vaccinated, and then we can move beyond remote learning, move beyond lockdowns.”

With children aged five and over now eligible for vaccination, both principals expected many students would be booked in to be vaccinated as soon as they are able to.

“If you look at the general vaccine rates in Mildura, it is very high and there are families who, for various reasons, don’t want to vaccinate. But generally, as a rule across Mildura, all families are vaccinated and have got behind that,” Mr Holy said.

Mr Mitchell added, “I can’t speak for the general public but I know we had a significant situation late last term and the conversation I had with parents at the time was that they felt that kids were at risk as they are active in the community but not vaccinated.”

“The general consensus is that parents want to keep their kids safe and that is what their preference is going to be.”

Mr Mitchell said the Ranfurly Primary School community have all felt the impact of COVID-19 with numerous students testing positive late 2021.

“When we hit five, the department declared it has an official outbreak and it went well over the 20 mark at Ranfurly Primary School,” he said.

“Majority were all children, it was predominantly Prep to Grade 2, but as the week dragged on, we saw it cross over into other areas due to siblings.

“Majority of cases were asymptomatic, which made it difficult as those being sent off for testing was because they were close contacts and not because they had symptoms.”

Mr Mitchell said during the final week of schooling for 2021 information was provided to schools from the government on the importance of vaccinating and urging schools to encourage families to ensure all students are vaccinated.

While Victorian schools remain in limbo, earlier this week, the South Australian Government announced its “hybrid” back-to-school plan.

As part of a staggered return-to-school plan, students in preschool, prep, year one, seven, eight and 12 will head back to face-to-face learning on Wednesday, February 2.

All other years will begin with remote learning, before starting face-to-face learning from February 14.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the start face-to-face learning in Queensland schools would be delayed by two weeks due to soaring COVID-19 cases.

A plan on how students can safely return to schools amid rising COVID-19 cases was discussed by leaders when national cabinet met on Thursday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for schools to go back on time, saying if that doesn’t happen more people will have to take time off work, exacerbating problems being experienced in hospitals, aged care facilities and grocery stores.