The start of the school term for students across Canberra and Queanbeyan will be like one they have never experienced before.
For the most part, children attending public schools in both the ACT and NSW will be learning from their dining room tables, bedrooms and kitchen benches.
But while children of essential workers in the NSW can continue to go to their normal school, in the ACT many will have to attend a different school campus, as only nine so-called hub schools would be open.
Christine Butterworth's 10-year-old daughter, Eva, is one of those who will have to adjust to an unfamiliar place.
After several weeks of learning from home, Eva, alongside her older brother Kayan, will be going back to school on Tuesday for Term 2.
The siblings will be attending Kingsford Smith School, one of nine hub schools that will be opening its doors to students during Term 2.
While Kayan normally attends his year 10 classes at Kingsford Smith School, Eva will attend classes there this term after her regular school Macgregor Primary was not designated as a hub school.
After weeks of uncertainty of what schooling in the ACT would look like this term due to coronavirus, Ms Butterworth said she hoped the arrangements worked out well.
"I just hope things go smoothly and that there's no spike in coronavirus cases," she said.
The siblings will be among the 1400 students who will attend the hub schools.
Learning would still be carried out online but children will be supervised at the school.
READ MORE:
- ACT virus testing expanded with new privately operated centre
-
No new coronavirus cases in Canberra in past 24 hours
- Students hooked up ahead of shift online
- More coronavirus news
While her children had been learning from home during the end of Term 1, Ms Butterworth said it was good to see some schools open to students in Term 2.
"We've had to juggle our work-life and home-life and maintain normality," she said.
"It's important for children to attend school and get them out of the house."
Across the border, in NSW all public schools will be opened from Wednesday but most students would continue online learning.
While Canberra students are set to bunker down in their homes for the whole of Term 2, those in Queanbeyan are preparing for a gradual return to start from Week 3.
Jenny Lloyd's three children Madison, 13, Andrew, 16, and Austin, 17, attend Queanbeyan High School and started remote learning last term.
She said remote learning has worked well for her children.
"We have their computers in their rooms so there is no distractions and my husband is around and they come in, if they need any help," she said.
"But they are really lucky, they use Google Classroom and the teachers have uploaded heaps of stuff and teachers have actually contacted me if they need anything to remind the kids and all."
It comes as NSW has adopted a staggered approach, whereby children would gradually be sent back to school starting with one day a week from May 11.
Ms Lloyd said would discuss with her children about whether they wanted to start going back.
"We are in discussion at the moment, more than likely [yes] for their mental health and for a little bit of socialisation we might because they have been cut off physically from their friends for so long," she said.
Catholic schools in the ACT and NSW will remain open to those who need it.
- For information on COVID-19, please go to the ACT Health website or the federal Health Department's website.
- You can also call the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
- If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call Triple Zero (000)
Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support. If you're looking to stay up to date on COVID-19, you can also sign up for our twice-daily digest here.
