By Gabriella Payne
There was a buzz in the air at secondary schools throughout the Cardinia Shire this week, as Year 12 students got back into the swing of onsite learning.
Like the thousands of VCE students across Victoria, the shire’s senior students had a spring in their step as they walked in the school gates after months of remote learning, and so did the teachers!
At St Francis Xavier College’s Beaconsfield campus, the teens were literally jumping for joy on Wednesday 6 October and the head of the campus, Rebecca Cetrola, said that it was a wonderful and exciting moment for everyone.
“There was great excitement and a positive buzz as our Year 12 students and staff returned onsite,” Ms Cetrola said.
“Students expressed excitement and were so pleased to be coming back to school – they were looking forward to seeing their teachers and reconnecting with their friends.”
One of the key reasons for Year 12’s being allowed back onsite was so that they could complete their General Achievement Test (GAT) and although exams are not something students usually look forward to – it was certainly a momentous occasion and one filled with anticipation.
“With only two weeks left of scheduled classes for our Year 12 students, we are so pleased that we can have them back working face-to-face with their teachers to complete their secondary certificates,” Ms Cetrola said.
At Pakenham Secondary College, the staff and students were equally as excited.
The school’s principal, Ray Squires, said that it was a fantastic feeling to welcome senior students back to onsite learning once again.
“Our students and teachers are really pleased and excited to be back onsite, and it’s great that they are interacting with their peers in a face to face context again,” Mr Squires said.
“At the moment, only our Year 12’s are attending onsite in a full time capacity.
“They transitioned on Tuesday with the sitting of the GAT and they are doing well in terms of making that transition from remote to onsite learning.”
Mr Squires said that while it was an exciting time, the school was making sure they adhered to all Covid safety regulations as the state isn’t out of the woods just yet.
“While we’re excited that we can get people back onsite, we are aware that we’ve got to work hard,” he said.
“There’s a sense of wariness around making sure that the Covid safe principles are in place and students and adults are working in a safe environment.”
Mr Squires said that the senior school exams would be starting in about three weeks time, so it was great to be able to have the Year 12’s back before their secondary schooling came to an end.
“I’d like to recognise how well the students, staff and our community have coped with the challenging circumstances over the past 18 months,” he said.
“The level of resilience they have shown has been quite remarkable.”
