One section of the community that will have a lifetime of pandemic memories in front of them are our school age students.
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For years to come the coronavirus in its many variants will impact their lives, and when sudden events like the current seven day lockdown occur, it's the parents and teachers who have the task of steering them through it.
As the state's public schools introduce stage three restrictions including the wearing of masks by teachers and staff, and cease a whole swathe of activities as listed below, the principal of St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Kerrie Basha is following suit.
"We have a lot of our children coming to school everyday which is terrific," Mrs Basha said "There are some that are staying at home during the lockdown and we're providing them with material if they've requested it."
Children are really resilient and they bounce back really quickly I've found.
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blayney principal Kerrie Basha
As for the students in class, Mrs Basha is happy with how they're all finding it.
"Children are really resilient and they bounce back really quickly I've found," she said.
"We answer all their questions and we are always talking about what else is happening in the world and how one day we might need to go into remote learning, so let's be prepared for that."
A few changes have been made around the school to prevent differing cohorts from mixing Mrs Basha said.
"We've moved infants in one area to eat, learn and play. Our stage two have an area for the same things and our stage three also have their area as well," she said.
"Parents aren't allowed onsite so during pickup times they can't come in to collect their children, which during unfavourable weather isn't always a nice thing to have to do."
A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education said that NSW Health advice requires all staff to wear a face mask or covering at all times including when working outdoors in all schools operating under Level 3 restrictions and that the following activities have to cease.
- Singing, chanting, group repetition and choirs (except for HSC preparation and assessment purposes as outlined above)
- Sport
- Bands and ensembles
- Emergency drills. Drills should be put on hold until further notice
- Interschool activities and events including interschool sport, gala days sporting carnivals, interregional and intrastate programs
- SRE/SEE/VSA
- Community Language Schools
- Assemblies
- School performances, productions, concerts, speech nights and award
- presentations
- Excursions, camps, field trips and principal-endorsed activities for students
- International excursions
- Student visits to aged care facilities.
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