Thousands of Victorian children return to classrooms - The Age

Her friend Haniyah Abdousaid said she had a lot of questions for her teachers, stuff that she wasn’t able to clarify while learning from home.

"Being in a home environment it’s quite hard to learn, it’s quite distracting sometimes and being at school will be better," she said.

Year 12 students at Mount Alexander College wash and sterilise their hands before class on Tuesday morning. Credit:Jason South

Her year 12 classmate Kyla Bokelunde said she was relieved to be out of a house she shared with a home schooling brother and sister and two working parents.

"It was hard, because my parents had Zoom meetings as well, they were working and I would have Zoom meetings for school and I couldn’t actually talk to my teachers because of the background noises of my parents in board meetings and stuff like that, so that was quite difficult," Kyla said.

Brenton Henry stood out among his Mount Alexander College classmates in his dramatic face mask, blood red in colour and ornately patterned with upside down skulls with pretty flowers growing out of the eye sockets.

"My mum, she wouldn’t allow me outside if I wasn’t wearing this," he said.

He isn’t certain kids should be back today, at least on health grounds.
"It’s not really ideal to come back, we’re not sure whether it’s safe or not but apparently the government is prioritising the economy rather than people’s health at this point. I guess it’s understandable."

His companion Billy Walker is more relaxed about the risks, confident that his health and the health of his family is not being put at risk by the return to class.

He says it’s "a little bit weird to be back but nice to see everyone’s faces".

Mount Alexander College senior co-ordinator Michael Buckingham welcomes students back for the first time.Credit:Jason South

Victorian children have spent more than a month of term two learning from home, under coronavirus lockdown measures.

Cecilia and Lila Younane were happy to be returning to Holy Family Primary School in Mt Waverley.

Older sister Cecilia, who is in grade 2, said the first day back was "really exciting because you get to see all your friends again."

Their mother Amelia Younane said she was very excited as well.

"After nine weeks at home, pretty much they haven't left the house much. They're ready and raring to be back, to see their friends and to see their teachers and have that social connection."

Amelia Younane with her daughters Cecilia and Lila.Credit:Joe Armao

Mrs Younane said while the family had had a positive experience with remote learning, she had not missed her calling as a teacher.
"It was nice to spend that time together," she said.

Michelle Elias loved seeing her prep daughter, Ella, learn at home but said it was fantastic Ella could get back to the classroom today.

"We packed the school bag yesterday, that was very exciting," Mrs Elias said.

"It's the first step of normality, and I think that routine. Being away from home is the most exciting I think for her, seeing her friends, just having that time apart."

Michelle Elias and daughter Ella return to Holy Family Primary School.Credit:Joe Armao

Ella, also at Holy Family Primary School, said she was looking forward to "playing games and playing on the playground."

Other parents also told The Age of their excitement at returning their children to the classroom today. Many said they felt a sense of relief. But some families also hold concerns about safety.

"Not comfortable at all in exposing the kids and [we] risk kids bringing back something home," one parent said.

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There were also parents, like Ilan, saying they would miss having their "disruptive but cute" students around.

Extra cleaning will be provided at all schools and all teachers will be able to get tested for COVID-19. Many schools are staggering start times and instructing families to use particular gates for each year level.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMidWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWFnZS5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvdmljdG9yaWEvdGhvdXNhbmRzLW9mLXZpY3Rvcmlhbi1jaGlsZHJlbi1yZXR1cm4tdG8tY2xhc3Nyb29tcy0yMDIwMDUyNi1wNTR3ZWguaHRtbNIBdWh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLnRoZWFnZS5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvdmljdG9yaWEvdGhvdXNhbmRzLW9mLXZpY3Rvcmlhbi1jaGlsZHJlbi1yZXR1cm4tdG8tY2xhc3Nyb29tcy0yMDIwMDUyNi1wNTR3ZWguaHRtbA?oc=5

2020-05-26 00:29:08Z
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