How many learners are you expecting to have back in the two grades that are allowed to return to classrooms?
We have 198 Matric learners and are expecting them all to be back at school and ready to work hard to achieve a great set of results at the end of the year.
What measures have been implemented by the school to ensure that social distancing is adhered to outside of the classrooms?
We have four dedicated areas around the school for our Grade 12 learners to enjoy during their break time. There are strict rules in place to ensure no more than one learner on a bench at a time. Our staff will be on duty throughout the day to ensure that a 2 metre distance is being observed.
What measures have been implemented by the school to ensure that children have easy access to hand sanitister?
Every member of staff at Kloof High School has been given their own spray bottle of hand sanitiser which is re-filled every day. The staff use these to sanitise desk tops after each lesson. Sanitiser is available at the entrance to each classroom, learners use this as they enter the classroom, we have also placed hygiene soap and hand sanitiser in every bathroom in our school – these are cleaned and sanitised hourly throughout the day.
Will the school be providing masks for the children who cannot afford their own?
Learners are required to arrive at school with a cloth mask, we have been supplied by the Department of Education with two masks per learner. As the learner arrives at school on the first day, they will sign and receive these additional masks. We also have masks in reserve.
Will online learning continue, alongside classroom lessons, for the children who are not in good health to return to classrooms?
Any learners with medical proof of comorbidities will be given access to materials to learn from home and we will ensure contact with their teachers.
Will children remain in one class the whole day to ensure they are not exposed to another child’s germs?
Wherever possible this will happen, however in a High School there are a few specialised venues such as life science laboratories, physical science laboratories and engineering and graphic design classrooms, where the learners would have to move around. Desks will be sanitised between each lesson and every classroom in the school will be deep cleaned at the end of each day. Class sizes have been adjusted to facilitate social distancing.
What other measures have been put into place by the school with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic?
- Every member of staff also goes through symptom screening and temperature checks.
- There is only one entrance and exit to the school
- The school is locked before 7am and at 4pm each day to limit after and before school gatherings
- We have a team of ground staff and cleaners, under the supervision of our Estate Manager, Mr Williams, who clean and sanitise the school throughout the day. All our sanitiser has the necessary certification to ensure that the appropriate products are being used.
- All learners are checked by members of management, against a symptom checklist as provided by the Department of Education. Each child’s temperature is checked and recorded before entering the school.
- We have 4 isolation areas set up should anyone at any point show signs of Covid-19
- These areas have been set up in accordance with a Qualified Nursing Sister.
- Mrs Roux, who has a First Aid level 3 qualification and who has worked with learner safety at schools, for the past 20 years, is our Covid-19 officer and will deal appropriately with any cases at hand.
- The Intercom is used for all notices and there will be no assemblies.
Do you feel the children will be able to continue with the current curriculum having only done home school for two months?
Our teaching staff and management team has worked tirelessly the last two months, providing lessons and material on Google Classroom, WhatsApp groups, phone calls and Power Point. Our IT department has shared all contact details to our parents and learners, to ensure that log in details have been provided and anyone who does not understand how to use any of the platforms can be shown how to do so.
Our teachers understand that there are some learners with data issues and have dealt with this on a case by case basis and are confident that through hard work and determination the learners can and will still achieve great results this Academic year.
Our Student Support team, consisting of Counsellor, Psychologist and Educational Psychologist, will assist learners who feel anxious and pressured.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
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