Fourways High welcomes back Grade 12 learners

Fourways High School has developed a comprehensive policy to ensure that learners and staff remain safe when they return to school from 8 June.

Rushka Jaffer, a teacher at the school said that they are handing out awards of appreciation to their school leadership to thank them for guiding them through this pandemic.

Jaffer said that the school governing body (SGB) and the school leadership team (SLT) instituted a Covid Management Team (CMT) lead by deputy principal Garth Neilson and SGB member Marius Greyling.

The team developed a 28-page policy document after studying all relevant government gazettes, including the Disaster Management Act and the Occupational Health andSafety Act.

“Since President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the nationwide lockdown on 27 March, acting deputy principal Andrew Holliday took swift action in setting up a comprehensive online programme following a revised timetable on the most secure platform on the market, MS Teams,” Jaffer explained.

“With daily briefings at 7.30am and lessons beginning at 8am, Fourways High School created a structured environment to ensure continued support to both learners and staff.”

On 8 June, 226 matric learners returned to the school’s premises.

“The transition back to school won’t be easy. Learners will be screened and register taken as they enter and leave school grounds.”

Each learner will be given two face masks and taught how to social distance correctly as well as the importance of a new way of life at school to ensure safety for all.

Jaffer added, “Going forward, in light of the uncertainty facing the nation, the teachers at Fourways High School feel assured that the school leadership has prioritised their well-being and those of learners and non-teaching staff. It is uncertain what the opening of schools will mean for the death toll in the country and whether this was the right thing to do.

“What is certain however is that Fourways High School has shown its teachers, learners and their parents the effect good leadership, planning, and delivery can have on a cohort of people.”

Jaffer concluded that the school is happy to share its compliance policies and procedures. They can be accessed on its website at www.4ways.co.za.