UPDATE: Toorak College parent tests positive to COVID-19. School to close its campus at the end of the day today (Wednesday). Read more:
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At least two schools have announced they will be closing their physical campuses due to COVID-19, but it won’t be all fun and games for the students, as both schools move to an “online learning” mode.
Toorak College’s Principal, Mrs Kristy Kendall, announced in a communication to parents on Monday (16 March) the school had “made the decision to use the final week of Term 1 to implement a remote and online learning program”.
This will mean that students at the school will begin school on Monday 23 March with “remote and online learning”.
The Principal stressed that the school community “remains free from any cases of COVID-19, however, with the increased number of cases being reported in Victoria, it is becoming increasingly likely that there will be a confirmed case of COVID-19 within our community”.
In a letter to parents on Tuesday (17 March), the Principal of Peninsula Grammar, Mr Stuart Johnston, announced that “an Extraordinary Executive meeting was held late yesterday evening and at that meeting the decision was made to move to an offsite delivery of our curriculum and learning program”.
“The School closure for students will be effective from 3.35pm Thursday 19 March, with Friday 20 March used to finalise staff preparation and secure all online learning services.”
Peninsula Grammar students will get a reprieve from study on Friday but, like Toorak College, will begin with online learning on Monday morning.
For them, that means being at their computers at 8.50am, and following the usual school timetable.
“It is expected that students will be online and attending their virtual classes following the timetable,” said the Head of Middle Years at Peninsula Grammar, Muriel Bakker.
“Class teachers will mark attendance as usual. If you know in advance that your child will be unable to attend a full day of online classes please email the absenteeism line.”
While things are set to change for students, it is certainly not a case of “School’s out for [f]ever”.
If your school has closed or has announced it will close due to COVID-19, let us know on: covid-19@mpnews.com.au
