Many Grade 7 and 12 learners from across the country will return to school on 1 June. The Fourways Review approached a number of local high schools to hear about their preparations for the imminent return of matric learners. Crawford Lonehill, St Peter’s College and Beaulieu College discussed the measures they have put in place to keep learners and staff safe while returning to their necessary academic programmes.
St Peter’s College:
Marketing and admissions manager at St Peter’s College Nosipho Nkosi said the school is ready to welcome back all Grade 12 learners on 1 June. “The college will continue with recording the lessons online and it will make resources available for students who are unable to attend school for various
reasons,” said Nkosi.
She said that all other grades will continue to be taught online to ensure that they keep up to date with the curriculum. A Covid-19 team has been working tirelessly at the school to ensure that St Peter’s meets and exceeds the safety requirements. Floors have been marked for social distancing and support staff have been on campus since the announcement ensuring that the school is cleaned. Academic staff will receive training before the first day of school and returning learners will receive training on 1 June.
Learners will be screened on arrival and sanitising stations will include hands, shoes and bags before entry is permitted. Teams are also in place to ensure that safety requirements are adhered to during class rotations. The timetable has also been adjusted to ensure that learners can move safely between classes.
Each classroom has sanitisers and automated stations have been installed at all touch points. All learners and staff will receive masks and visors upon their return to school. The school will not host any sports or cultural events. Nkosi said the school has not lost much time as the online learning programme was launched soon after lockdown. Even during this period, academic staff have been identifying learners who need support and providing interventions together with the wellness team and parents.
Headmaster Rui Morais encouraged matric learners, “As you ready yourself to return to school on 1 June, you owe it to yourself to work hard and do your best. Setbacks are temporary, disappointment doesn’t last, and enough courage can lift you out of anywhere.” Morais concluded, “St Peter’s College has given you the opportunities and, above all else, it’s taught you that you can learn anything and do anything when you put in the effort. Don’t let any of the bends or detours change your belief in your potential and know that the entire St Peter’s College staff is behind you all the way.”
Beaulieu College:
Kyalami Schools Group head of academics and innovation Mark Naidoo said the group has begun to ready their schools, including Beaulieu College, to be Covid-19 compliant in support of government to ensure the return of staff and learners.”We are cognisant of the safety protocols and plan to phase in the return of our pupils to schools, as directed by the Minister of Education, while taking advice from the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (Isasa)? We continue to review our processes on a weekly basis to improve our distance learning offering,” said Naidoo.”We salute the success of our staff, children and parents who have bravely accepted the challenge to keep working during the Covid-19 lockdown.”He added that staff and parents have been supplied with stable infrastructure to support distance learning during lockdown.
Crawford College Lonehill:
Principal Greg Theron has assured parents and learners that protocols will be followed and steps and steps have been taken to ensure maximum safety at the school.
Learners do, however, have the option of working from home. He expects that a third of the Grade 12 class at Crawford Lonehill will work from home.
Theron said that all touch points will be sanitised during and after each day and access to common areas will be restricted.Learners will be provided with four cloth masks each. Learners will be expected to wear masks at all times and practice social distancing both in class and outside.
Learners also have the option of wearing civvies to school as an alternative to enable them to wash their clothes at the end of each day. Learners, staff and service providers will be screened daily.
Theron explained, “For classes that require rotations, equipment, keyboards and desks will be cleaned between each rotation. There will be a specific classroom protocol for teachers to follow with particular attention on tables,chairs, door handles, staircases, bins etc.”
He said that the timetable has been changed to accommodate cleaning and other protocols.
The café will be closed and tests will be written in the afternoon.
There will be no sport, real assemblies, large gatherings or community service. Theron said that many activities will now take place on digital platforms, with online activities for a number of sports and cultural activities.
The principal added, “Our students and staff have embraced the online learning and it has been working exceptionally well for us.”
Theron concluded that all learners, teachers and support staff will receive training and orientation at the start of school reopening. All staff will be provided with masks and personal protective equipment (PPE).
