ALL students have now been allowed to return to Bowraville Central School at least for one day per week as per the Phase 1 managed return to school during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Eager Kindergarten and Year 7 students returned on Monday, followed by a staggered return over the week for other students.
Year 11 and 12 have been encouraged to attend every day, except Wednesday.
During the stay-at-home phase many students engaged willingly with their online learning.
Staff at Bowraville Central School were also able to deliver online lessons while isolating at home. Devices and internet dongles were made available to those students who didn't have access to these facilities, and packages of work were prepared which were either collected by students or posted home.
Teachers and aides even made home deliveries to ensure students were receiving their work.
Staff were vigilant in checking in on vulnerable students via home visits, phone calls and emails.
Many school activities had to be cancelled last term including the annual school Easter Hat Parade.
Not to be defeated, both students and staff were asked to submit photos of themselves wearing the hats they'd created. The photos were made into a video and the school's first ever 'virtual' Easter Hat Parade was posted on the school's social media on the last day of Term 1 for all to see.
During the stay-at-home period the school also posted a daily video of a staff member reading a story for students on the school Facebook page. To help maintain connectivity, parents were encouraged to send in photos of their children doing their lessons at home which were also 'shared' to the school's online community.
Staff have had to become creative in delivering their lessons. Teacher Lori Wilson had her Year 9 and 10 Agriculture class take on the assignment of growing mushrooms at home. Students were given a 'grow bag' of oyster mushrooms to take home. They had to water, harvest and cook what they produced.
Year 2/3/4 teacher Lee Luck, as part of a mini English unit on Fairytales, asked students to plan and make their own version of Rapunzel's castle with some great results.
Teaching staff have had to hastily adapt to this new world of online classes and have done so with dedication and strength. However, staff have been quick to praise the students who have taken these new challenges in their stride demonstrating more than ever, the school's positive behaviour for the learning values of 'Respect, Responsibility, Teamwork and most of all, Resilience'.