Catholic schools across Victoria will welcome students in Prep, Years 1, 2, 11 and 12, and specialist schools on Tuesday 26 May for a phased return to onsite learning.

To support staff to prepare for the students’ return, Monday 25 May will be a student-free day for Catholic schools.

‘Parents and families have been incredibly supportive of flexible and remote learning over the past several weeks, but I know many will join me in looking forward to the return to classroom-based teaching’, Executive Director, Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV), Jim Miles said.

‘It will be an exciting time as students reunite with their friends and peers, teachers recommence classroom learning, and our schools return to being vibrant and flourishing Catholic learning communities.

‘I know our principals, teachers and staff have done an enormous amount of work to prepare for the students’ return, and I congratulate them on their professionalism and dedication.

‘Teachers are also very conscious that some students will need extra support to readjust, and monitoring each child’s progress will be an important focus in this initial phase’, Mr Miles said.

‘Catholic schools will operate within the recommended safety guidelines, including around hygiene practices and restricted access to school sites.

‘It is important that we all play our part in minimising the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak causing further disruption to learning as schools move back towards full attendance.

‘I also remind any parents or carers who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 to discuss their situation with their school’, Mr Miles said.

Mr Miles said the Catholic sector welcomed the collaborative, cross-sectoral approach to the pandemic which has helped provide clarity and consistency for schools, parents and teachers.

‘We continue to actively monitor developments and work closely with the Victorian Departments of Education and Training (DET) and Health and Human Services (DHHS) to ensure school practices reflect current advice.’

Years 3–10 will return to Catholic schools from Tuesday 9 June in the second stage of the return to onsite schooling. However, for the students in those year levels who cannot be supervised at home and vulnerable children, the existing model of onsite schooling will remain in place during the two-week period from Tuesday 26 May to Tuesday 9 June.

More than 20% of all Victorian students attend nearly 500 Catholic schools across the dioceses of Melbourne, Ballarat, Sale and Sandhurst.

More information about the return to Catholic schools in Victoria and COVID-19 can be found on the CECV website.

Media contact: Gerard Delaney on 0413 274 176 or gdelaney@cem.edu.au

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