By Parker McKenzie
Primary schools around the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley returned for term one on Monday 31 January, with teachers, staff and student support busily preparing for their return in the lead up to the first day.
Students returned to government schools on 31 January for term one, which runs until April 8.
Ferny Creek Primary School principal Anni Smart said while there is some anxiety surrounding Covid cases, the school has implemented safe practice to ensure there is minimal disruption to term one.
“Our students arrive in bubbles and they leave in bubbles. Throughout the day, Year ones and twos are in one bubble, the threes and fours are in another separate from the fives and sixes,” she said.
“We’ve been through this already; this is the third year running now that we’ve had to have Covid safe practices here.”
Students at Ferny Creek Primary School will return to class on Tuesday 1 February.
Ms Smart said students, staff and parents were all excited for the return of school.
“They all seem very enthused and very much looking forward to coming back,” she said.
“We actually have a set of twins starting next year, so that’s quite exciting.”
Kallista Primary School acting-principal Rachel Stone said the staff and the student council have been busily preparing for the return of students.
“We’re all really excited that the students are going to be coming back on site on Monday,” she said.
“We are abiding by the Department of Education’s ventilation requirements and we’ve received our filter machine.”
The Victorian State Government promised 51,000 ventilation machines would be delivered to government and low-fee non-government schools by the start of term one.
To ensure minimal disruption to the start of the school year, the Victorian Government announced a four-week plan with a focus on rapid-antigen testing of staff and students.
The government is recommending all primary and secondary staff and students test themselves twice weekly to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
