RIVERLAND students returned to school on Monday with many important activities back on the agenda now that COVID-19 restrictions have lifted statewide.
Activities such as school assemblies, camps, excursions, sports days, carnivals, formals, socials and school photos will all be able to occur in schools.
Parents, volunteers and service providers are also able to enter school and preschool grounds providing health advice is followed.
“Students, staff and families statewide will welcome the return to school for term 3, particularly with the return of these important activities,” said John Gardner, Minister for Education.
“There is no better place to be in the world right now than South Australia, and it is because of the great work of our public health officials that we have been able to transition these activities back so quickly.
“We have led the nation in school attendance since last term, and we believe this has placed our students in an excellent position to succeed in their studies this year.
“Students and families alike will be keen to get back into sport, which is fantastic because we know that physical activity provides immense benefits in supporting young people’s health and wellbeing.
“We know that the health and social benefits that comes with participating in sport are important for our young people, and I’m sure that school students statewide will be excited about returning to competition this term.
“The return of school formals, socials, camps and excursions will certainly be welcomed by students, who earlier in the year may have feared these activities may not occur in 2020.”
Loxton Lutheran School principal Brad Williams said he looks forward to the rest of the school year.
“COVID-19 was the most complex thing I’ve ever dealt with as a principal but the incredible support from the school staff and community made it easier,” he said.
“We missed out on a fair bit: our assemblies, worships, sports day, excursions and much more.
“We missed our community engagement with our worships and events such as the Pedal Prix and missed our interaction with parents.
“School drop-offs and pick-ups were very strange and not having parents in the school listening to children read was upsetting.
“Interaction with the school and wider community is a vital part of our school and all schools.”
Mr Williams said he looks forward to students – and staff – maintaining routine and structure to their days and learning.
“The children understood what was happening and they were very resilient – some took it better than adults,” he said.
“If we think of all the adjustments that had to be made for them, it was truly huge.
“Receptions went from kindy, to school holidays, to school, to being back at home again.
“Setting a routine for students will be very important.”
Mr Williams said the school will “take it one step at a time”.
“We will continue to do the right thing because with what’s happening in Victoria, it goes to show that situations can change very quickly,” he said.
“Planning events will be a challenge because instead of spreading events across four terms they’ll be condensed into two.
“The kids look forward to sports day and the school concert and I am excited to get back to a normal school year.”