According to district schools, co-operation between staff and parents has been extremely positive during lockdown, but the opportunity to interact with children face-to-face once again is one all educational leaders are champing at the bit to utilise.
St Joseph’s Primary School principal Lucy Keath is one of many Cobram principals eager to welcome pupils back on-campus come October.
“We are thrilled to be getting back into on-site learning as of the 8th October,” she said.
“Our school community have been amazing over remote learning and we are overwhelmed by the support our families and community have been during this incredibly tough time. It has been a huge learning curve for everyone — teachers, parents and children.
“We are looking forward to getting back to the new COVID-normal.”
Cobram Primary School principal Matt Knight agreed and said all staff would be raring to go when October rolled around.
“We are thrilled to have the students return to on-site learning,” he said.
“Our entire school community deserve to be proud of the way they have worked through what had been a strange set of scenarios.
“Our staff and students have done all that they can to continue to teach and learn.
“However, having children return to on-site learning is something that we are all looking forward to, and that’s why we are not wasting any time.”
In a similar vein, high schools are also relishing the promise of a return to the classroom.
Cobram Secondary College principal Kimberly Tempest praised the community for its efforts in keeping kids engaged, but was looking forward to restoring order by hosting students in the classroom again.
“We are delighted to be returning to face-to-face teaching in week two. While our school community has coped remarkably well with remote learning, most students learn best at school,” she said.
“I don’t want to dwell on negatives, but instead I’d like to focus on the resilience and creativity of students, staff and parents.
“I am so grateful for the support of our parent community and proud of our students, who’ve shown tenacity and resilience throughout remote learning.”
Cobram Anglican Grammar School principal Keith Willett echoed the sentiments of the other principals and said the school was ready and willing to return to on-campus learning.
“Like all school communities Cobram Anglican Grammar is delighted and relieved to be able to return to face-to-face teaching and learning in term four,” he said.
“Our students, parents and teachers have coped remarkably well with the remote schooling scenario caused by COVID-19.
“However, there is no doubt that there is no substitute for the human and social contact so important for the successful educational outcomes that transpire when both teachers and students are on campus.
“We are certainly looking forward to having our school operating as normally as possible next term.”
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