Students across the Macleay began returning to the classroom today following weeks of remote learning at home.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
NSW recorded just one new case of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours.
Students across the sate will return for at least one day of face-to-face learning per week from today, with attendance to increase over the course of the term.
Principal of St Paul's College Kempsey, Kevin Lewis, said students have adapted well to online learning and will be returning to the classroom at least one day a week, with full attendance expected over the coming weeks.
"Our seniors returned to school today and they're able to come in everyday, while students in other years will be returning for one day this week," he said.
"That will increase each week until we reach full attendance.
"The students have been coping well with the online learning because we had introduced that style of teaching prior to COVID-19."
Students in NSW schools will increase the number of days they are in the classroom each week to build up to full attendance.
"We're hoping to have all students back to school as normal in a month if everything goes to plan," Mr Lewis said.
Kempsey Adventist School (KAS) students began attending face-to-face lessons last week, with full attendance at the school expected by May 25.
"To further support our school community and those who continue to self-isolate, we are continuing the co-delivery of both face-to-face learning and remote learning into the foreseeable future," principal Leanne Lesic said.
"We gathered feedback from parents, carers and staff and created a sustainable plan that supports our whole school community and ensures that remote learning remains a sustainable practice inside the return to regular face-to-face teaching."
Mrs Lesic said students at KAS also adapted well to remote learning.
"The transition to online learning was extremely successful for our school. We have now implemented a fantastic new learning environment that students can access anywhere, anytime, with or without a device or access to the internet," she said.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Year 12 public school students will be attending on average three days a week, with some Year 12 students going back full time this week across the state.
"We are looking forward to that number increasing," Ms Berejiklian said.
All school across the Macleay, including primary schools, have implemented a staggered approach for students to return to school this week, parents are encouraged to contact their child's school to find out their individual attendance schedule.
Schools have also implemented a number of social distancing measures and good hygiene practices to ensure the safety of students and teachers.
"Our school has a number of restrictions and changes to our normal routines in place which will aid in keeping our school community safe during this time. Some of these measures include temperature checking, additional cleaning services and increased hygiene supplies across the campus," Mrs Lesic said.
Mr Lewis said sport at St Paul's will be altered to adhere to restrictions, with no-contact sports allowed to continue.
"We have also increased our cleaning and disinfecting habits around the school," he said.
"The safety of students is our highest priority."