A Daylesford principal has reflected on the challenges of guiding a school through a disrupted year of learning, with students starting to return to their classrooms from this week.
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Forced to take the unprecedented step of closing Daylesford College to students and staff for the first time in history due to the coronavirus pandemic (except for a handful of students with special circumstances), the corridors and classrooms normally buzzing with activity have been eerily quiet for the past few months.
But this week, after months of home learning, excited primary school pupils have returned to school, while VCE students will complete the General Achievement Test (GAT). All secondary school students will return to school next week.
While some have enjoyed the experience of home learning, for some parents and teachers, the pressures of working from home with children underfoot has been immense and the return to face-to-face learning is a welcome step towards a new normal amid COVID-19.
Daylesford College principal, Steve MacPhail, said the constant need to adapt had been the biggest challenge this year.
"We've been flying by the seat of our pants with the announcements coming from the Premier so fast - the constant shifting of sands and how we adapt has been the biggest challenge," he said.
But for him, the challenge of looking after student and staff wellbeing while not physically at school has always been front of mind.
We're usually focused on student outcomes and academics, but this pandemic has focused us more on talking to kids, teachers, staff and parents - the granular stuff of checking in with kids at home who may be struggling.
- Daylesford College principal Steve MacPhail
"We're usually focused on student outcomes and academics, but this pandemic has focused us more on talking to kids, teachers, staff and parents - the granular stuff of checking in with kids at home who may be struggling," Mr MacPhail said.
From cutting down the timetable to reduce the stress for students and teachers while learning and working from home, the school also took steps so its wellbeing team could operate online.
"It was set-up online using video conferencing; with a nurse, a doctor, two youth workers, an alcohol and drug counsellor and a social worker available," he said.
No classes ran on Tuesdays, rather, it was a day to check-in and focus on wellbeing.
"We made sure we spoke to our kids and their parents and carers and asked them what their experiences were of learning from home during COVID," Mr MacPhail said.
"The results were interesting. For example, 15 per cent of students actually reported an improvement in their mental health while learning from home, and 32 per cent felt they learnt better online than in the classroom.
"Overall the feedback was very positive. Kids are pretty resilient and this shone through."
This year has been particularly challenging for Year 12 students, whose final year at school has largely been spent studying in isolation rather than enjoying experiences at school.
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So during the lockdown, in an effort to raise their spirits, Mr MacPhail and other school staff sent a message to every Year 12 student, telling them to keep an eye on their letterboxes.
"We dropped off homemade cookies and masks made by the teachers, and inspirational quotes on cards," he said.
Care packages filled with homemade goodies were also sent to staff.
"I knocked on a lot of people's doors with a quick hello and a smile," he said.
This year has also been challenging for younger students, namely Year 7s. But Daylesford College is one of the few schools which did not need to cancel school camp, with Year 7 students to head off to Alexandra in a few weeks' time.
On the return to face-to-face learning, Mr MacPhail said it was "incredibly important".
"We're social beings and learning is a social exercise. I think the way our students weathered this is a real credit to them - I'm really proud of them and proud of my staff because they've been such a big part in helping the kids cope."
He said he was excited for students to return to face-to-face learning.
I do think that COVID could result in some positive changes for education. It's made us rethink everything we do. It's shown us that our kids can be independent, and that's a good thing.
- Steve MacPhail
"We go into teaching because we love hanging out with kids, that's part of why this has been so difficult," he said.
He added that COVID could result in some positive changes to the education system.
"I'm an optimistic person. I do think that COVID could result in some positive changes for education. It's made us rethink everything we do. It's shown us that our kids can be independent, and that's a good thing."
- Sandy Scheltema has been documenting stories from around Central Victoria in her Life in the Time of Coronavirus series, funded by Creative Victoria and Regional Arts Victoria as part of the Sustaining Creative Workers Initiative.
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