Schools are ready for 2021

Most of the schools in the South are ready for the academic year, which will start on February 15.

With the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) confirming that school management teams (SMT) reported to all schools on January 25, teachers reported at schools on February 1.

The multi-year recovery teaching plans to be communicated with parents and activity packs for those (learners with co-morbidities) who will be learning remotely have been prepared and delivery of masks, face shields and sanitisers to respective schools continues daily.

The COURIER asked several principals about their readiness:

Laerskool Theo Wassenaar principal, Firzaana Tagari, said: “As a school, we are as ready as can be expected. PPE delivery from the GDE has taken place and staff members are busy with planning as best as they can. There are always unexpected things that can happen, but at this stage, I can comfortably say that we are ready to receive our learners as per our plan.”

St Martin’s School head of marketing, Gillian O’Shaughnessy, said: “St Martin’s School, being an independent school, reopened for online learning on January 18 and our school opened for on-campus learning on February 1.

“We can offer our learners on campus face-to-face learning in the classroom and for those parents who have decided to keep their children at home, owing to family members with co-morbidities, there is the option to continue with online learning, using Microsoft Teams.

“All health and safety protocols are in place on the campus. The required health checks are done by staff at the entrances to the school campus each morning. “Where classrooms are not big enough to accommodate social distancing, we have used bigger venues, such as our school hall, sports pavilion and library.

“In between lessons, the classrooms and teaching venues are sanitised before the next lesson begins. The wearing of masks is compulsory for all staff and learners.

“Hand sanitiser units are located at prominent places in the walkways and entrances to venues on the campus for learners and staff to use. Learners are also encouraged to carry their pocket-size hand sanitiser during the day.

“There is a qualified nursing sister on campus to check and apply all the Covid protocols should a child or staff member present with symptoms during the day.

“Our school chaplain is conducting chapel services with each grade on separate days, socially distanced in the school chapel. There are no formal events taking place and all academic celebrations will be recorded and provided in a video link to be shown to parents and our school community.”

Reagents Park Primary School principal, Karl Schofield: “We are on track with all preparations and should be ready to receive learners on February 15.”

Verney College owner/CEO Aldina Pinto-Teixeira said: “As far as Verney College is concerned, we have been ready for quite some time.

“We reopened school on January 13. We have all the Covid protocols in place, starting with sanitising the school entrances and temperature checking.

“Inside the classrooms, social distancing has been marked and is being observed, there are sanitisers at the entrance of every classroom. “Outside at break time, we have allocated different playgrounds to different classes and a teacher is looking after the children to ensure that social distancing is observed.

“We have been teaching online and started face-to-face already on February 1. We continue to offer online lessons to the learners whose parents prefer them to stay at home. “We are ready and willing to resume our normal schedules and classes giving the children a sense of normality as much as we can.”

Robertsham Primary School principal, Sharon Lynch, said: “Robertsham Primary School is ready for 2021. Our school has been sanitised and cleaned. The GDE has kept to their promise and has delivered the sanitisers and masks for the learners. Educators have completed their planning and programme for the year.

“We have adopted both online learning and smaller classes approach for the year. Our learners have been taught to adapt to the virtual Google Classroom platform and will be continuing to do so for the year. Our motto for the year – Dream, believe and achieve – will be our focus for 2021.”

Sir John Adamson High School principal, Michael Meyers, said: “Sir John Adamson High School is ready to welcome learners on February 15. The education department has delivered all the necessary PPEs and each learner will receive two masks and the teachers will receive face shields.

“All the signage in the classrooms is properly marked. We are continuing to prepare for the learning class material.”