Jaxon Platts, 6, and his mum Natasha are excited for schools to reopen. Photo / Julia Czerwonatis
Jaxon Platts, 6, and his mum Natasha are excited for schools to reopen. Photo / Julia Czerwonatis
It's the last day of home school for families before all students and teachers can return to their classrooms under level 2 tomorrow which could bring back some normality, principals hope.
While New Zealand, with exception of Auckland, is moving for alert level 2 today, school were given an extraday to prepare for reopening under the guidance of the Ministries of Education and Health.
On Monday, director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield recommended that children wear masks at school but said it wouldn't be mandatory.
However, epidemiologist Dr Michael Baker told the AM Show yesterday that high school students should be wearing masks.
"They are just as good as transmitting this virus, have huge social networks."
It was already common all over the world, he said.
Baker said mask-wearing in secondary schools should be mandatory once students returned to class as this was an age group where Delta had proved highly transmissible internationally.
Whangārei Boys' High School principal Karen Gilbert-Smith hopes school attendance will bring back some normality for families and students. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Whangārei Boys' High School principal Karen Gilbert-Smith assumed that most staff and students will be wearing masks naturally, even if there was no rule to enforce it.
"If the director-general [of health] is highly recommending that we are wearing masks then let's do that," Gilbert-Smith said.
"I believe students can wear masks correctly at secondary school. I appreciate how difficult it is in a primary school with young kids who would be tugging and pulling, and not wearing it properly. But I think we're in a different space in the secondary school."
She said some boys were wearing masks to school at different times during the year when they wanted to protect other people or themselves.
"We're not going to enforce it. The last thing we want is another source of conflict."
Gilbert-Smith said the school wouldn't single students or staff out who are not wearing a mask.
"There will be reasons why people can't wear a mask and we have to respect that."
Students will have an increased whānau time on Thursday morning to remind them about good hand hygiene, physical distancing and other Covid-related advice.
Gilbert-Smith recognises that staff, parents and students might be hesitant to come back to school, however returning back to normality could help alleviate the anxiety.
"Going back to school will provide students with a sense of consistency and routine which is very important for young people."
She said not all boys were thriving under distance learning during lockdown.
The biggest challenge would pose for senior students who might be worried about their NCEA.
"We need to be mindful about that," Gilbert-Smith said.
"Senior students will definitely be our priority in terms of making sure they are properly set up for their end of the year."
Masks won't be mandatory at school. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Meanwhile, a Whangārei primary student is not that worried about wearing his cool crocodile mask to school tomorrow.
Six-year-old Jaxon Platts visits Morningside School and is excited to see his friends again after learning from home together with his younger sister Penelope who still attends daycare.
"Most times it's hard to breathe," Jaxon said. "But I think we should all wear a mask."
Mum Natasha is happy for her son to return to school as there were no Covid cases in Northland.
She said under 12-year olds shouldn't have to wear masks but older kids could be encouraged to.
"Jaxon and Penelope don't mind wearing masks. They are also very aware of hand hygiene. Jaxon is very well equipped with the not sharing anything with others concept – he wouldn't even touch his sister's food."
Morningside School principal Tom Clarkson said bringing attendance back up was the biggest challenge for the school. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Morningside School principal Tom Clarkson said the school was following the guidance of health authorities and while masks weren't mandatory, he would support students or staff who decide to wear one.
"I'd imagine some whānau will send their kids to school with masks. If they want to wear them, they will be supported."
Clarkson said he didn't notice students wearing masks previously.
The school's biggest focus will be attendance.
"Getting the kids back to school will be our number one priority now."
Some families would experience increased anxiety and they might be reluctant to send children back to school, Clarkson said.
However, the school staff had been "very proactive in communicating with our whānau".
"Any updates I get from the ministry I pass directly on to the community."
