Ballarat Grammar will close on Thursday, a week early, to protect students, staff and the broader community from coronavirus.
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But students will still be expected to complete the their term one work from home.
"With a plan to close the school to students from 3:20 on Thursday, this provides time for students and staff from Prep to Year 12 to prepare for the transition to learning at home, which will be fully supported to the end of Term 1 by our dedicated teaching staff," the school said in a statement.
"While Ballarat Grammar has had no diagnosed cases, the school will always put first the health and safety of our students, their families and the broader community, which we know to include those who are extremely susceptible to the symptoms of COVID-19.
"Ballarat Grammar is a large community of almost 2000 students and staff, including one of the largest and most expansive boarding communities in Victoria and Australia. The social distancing recommended by government and health authorities is difficult to achieve in our learning and residential environment."
The school also warned that, if required, the start of term two could also include a period of learning from home.
St Patrick's College has sent many of its interstate boarders home and cancelled extra curricular activities such as excursions, sports days, trips, full school assemblies, mass and an old collegians lunch planned for St Patrick's Day but classes continue as usual.
"We are scaling back on things that are determined to be non-core," said college spokesman Paul Nolan.
"We plan on focusing on normal classes until we are directed otherwise by governing authorities."
Interstate boarders, most from the Northern Territory, have gone home to make it as easy as possible for them to get home, and some families have elected to keep their boarding students at home after the weekend, but for most it is school life as normal.
Loreto College has also taken health and safety precautions, cancelling excursions and major events for the rest of the term and preparing all staff and students for a period of online learning if needed.
"At this stage there is no immediate plan to close the school early, however information is fluid and changing rapidly," a spokesperson said.
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