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Heritage Guide to The Geelong College






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COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 Pandemic

At the end of December 2019 a new infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified in China. It has since spread globally resulting in the coronavirus 2019-2020 pandemic.

The first case on Australian soil was reported on 25 January 2020, with other positive cases appearing across the country. As the reported infections grew, the Federal and State governments implemented growing measures to slow down the spread of the virus. With these measures schools began to review and adjust how they practiced education. At The Geelong College, the last week of Term 1 moved to remote learning, with all classes continuing online for the beginning of Term 2.


Timeline
DateThe Geelong CollegeWorld/Australia
12 January 2020-The World Health Organization (WHO) confirms that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.
23 January 2020-Australian Biosecurity officials start screening arrivals from Wuhan.
25 January 2020-First case reported in Australia.
28 January 2020The College is closely monitoring updates, reiterating advice for recent arrivals from Wuhan/Hubei province.-
1 February 2020- Australia bans the entry of foreign nationals from mainland China and orders its own returning citizens from China to self-quarantine for 14 days. Subsequent bans limited arrivals from Iran, South Korea and Italy.
12 February 2020Some of the school’s domestic trips are cancelled. -
13 February 2020All levels of regular APS sporting competitions (including Year 5 and 6 APS fixtures) will not proceed for the remainder of Term 1 2020, with the exception of 1st Team Sport. Upcoming 1st competitions are under review. -
27 February 2020- Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) activated.
12 March 2020-$17.6 billion stimulus package was unveiled by the Prime Minister.
15 March 2020Planning is underway to ensure continuity of learning should the school close.All travellers arriving in or returning to Australia must self-isolate for 14 days. Australian’s urged not to travel overseas.
16 March 2020All events have been cancelled until the end of term.Victoria declares state of emergency, later extended to 11 May. Public gatherings of more than 500 people banned.
18 March 2020Principal announces the transition of The Geelong College to a Remote Learning model with the conclusion of normal school classes at the end of Friday 20 March for all students in EL to Year 12.Human biosecurity emergency was declared, under Biosecurity Act 2015. Ban on indoor gatherings of more than 100 people.
20 March 2020APS Sport Winter season will not commence prior to 30th May.Australian borders closed to all non-residents and non-Australian citizens.
21 March 2020-Social distancing rule in enclosed spaces, 4 m2 per person.
22 March 2020-Victorian government imposes closure of non-essential services.
23 March 2020-Federal government impose restrictions effectively banning indoor gatherings. Restaurants and cafes restricted to takeaway services.
24 March 2020Remote Learning commences.-
26 March 2020-Victorian government extends the list of non-essential business activity that will be shut down or restricted across the state.
31 March 2020-Restrictions expand: advice for all to “stay at home” with only four reasons to be out: food and essential supplies; medical, care or compassionate needs; exercise in compliance with the public gathering requirements; work and study if you can’t work or learn remotely. More than a third of the world's population is under some form of lockdown.
7 April 2020Remote Learning will continue for four weeks of Term 2, at least.-
14 April 2020Term 2 commences for staff with online Chapel service and Principal’s address.-
15 April 2020Term 2 commences for students by Remote Learning. Onsite supervision is provided for students as required.-
17 April 2020Semester 1 examinations cancelled for Year 9-11-
22 April 2020The College wellbeing program Triple R launches the What Works and What Matters blog, an opportunity for the College community to share What Works: ideas, tips and advice that have helped during pandemic, and What Matters: things that have changed and reflections on life during the pandemic.-
25 April 2020-Anzac Day is marked across the country as people stay at home. Anzac services are broadcast on television and many 'Light up the Dawn' by observing a minutes silence at dawn at the end of their driveways.
27 April 2020-The Victorian Government announces a COVD-19 testing blitz for the two weeks before reviewing the state of emergency and restrictions.
8 May 2020-The Federal Government announce the National Cabinet's 3-step plan to create a COVIDSafe Australia with new ways of living and working. Under this plan, each state and territory government will decide which restrictions can be eased when, taking into account their local circumstances.
11 May 2020-The Victorian Government announces the easing of some restrictions effective 11.59pm on Tuesday, 12 May 2020. This adds a fifth reason to leave home: to visit friends and family – with a maximum gathering of up to ten outdoors and having up to five visitors in homes.
12 May 2020-The Victorian Government announces plan for the return of students to school. Schools will begin a staged return from remote and flexible learning from Tuesday 26 May 2020. All students will attend school as normal from Tuesday 9 June 2020.
25 May 2020Pupil free day. Teacher's return to school for a planning day.-
26 May 2020Onsite classes resume for EL to Year 3 at Junior School, Year 4 to Year 6 at Middle School, and students studying VCE subjects at Senior School (mostly Year 11 and 12).-
28 May 2020College's September production of We will rock you cancelled.-
29 May 2020APS Heads announce that Winter Sports will commence in Term 3.-
1 June 2020-Eased restrictions come into force in Victoria. Includes increased number of people allowed at private and public gatherings, as well as more allowances for ceremonies, fitness, sport and recreation, personal services, cafes and restaurants, travel and leisure, culture and entertainment. Victorian Government extends state of emergency to 21 June.
2 June 2020-Australia's COVID-19 tally stands at 7 221 total cases, 102 deaths, 6 625 recovered. Victoria has 1 663 cases and 19 deaths. The WHO reports 6 194 533 cases and 376 320 deaths globally.
9 June 2020Onsite classes resume for Years 7 and 8 at Middle School and Years 9 and 10 at Senior School. All students are back at school.-
25 June 2020The June edition of the Ad Astra magazine provides an overview of school life in 2020. Click here to read the magazine.-
4 July 2020-Public housing towers in Flemington and North Melbourne go into lockdown for at least five days in order to suppress transmission of the virus and conduct testing of the residents.
9 July 2020-Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire return to stage 3 restrictions for at least six weeks.
14 July 2020Term 3 commences with continuing learning on site.-
25 July 2020School sport returns with COVIDsafe protocols, including hygiene practices and no spectators.-
23 July 2020-Masks are mandatory for people leaving their property and at work.
3 August 2020-Stage 4 restrictions commence in Metropolitan Melbourne. Restrictions include mandatory masks, curfew, keeping to a 5km of home with exceptions.
3 August 2020-No visitors are permitted to homes in Colac-Otway, Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Moorabool, Golden Plains and Queenscliffe municipalities.
6 August 2020Students return to Remote Learning with all co-curricular activities cancelled.Stage 3 restrictions commence for regional Victoria, with 'stay at home' directive, and leaving home limited to shopping for essentials, medical or care-giving, exercise, or work if not able to work from home.
8 August 2020APS Winter Sports season cancelled.-
9 September 2020APS Spring Sports season cancelled.-
13 September 2020-Melbourne enters first step of the Road Map for Reopening Victoria, including allowance for single social bubbles, and 9pm-5am curfew. Regional Victoria enters second step, including allowances for public gatherings of five people (from two households).
27 September 2020-Melbourne restrictions ease with no curfew and other measures such as public gatherings of five people (from two households).
12 October 2020Students return to sports training intra-school competitionsStudents from across Victoria return to the classroom.
19 October 2020-Melbourne residents allowed public gatherings of ten people and travel within 25km of home.
27 October 2020Junior School redevelopment is officially opened (virtually) by the Governor of Victoria, the Honourable Linda Dessau A.C.-
27 October 2020-Melbourne residents have no restrictions on leaving home.
8 November 2020-25km travel limit lifted for Melbourne residents, and hard border between Melbourne and Victoria is lifted.
22 November 2020-Mandatory mask wearing eased to public indoor spaces and outdoors when you cannot maintain a 1.5m distance from others. Gathering capacities lifted to 15 indoors and 50 outdoors.
7 December 2020-Mandatory mask wearing eased further to public transport, rideshares, taxis, shopping centres, indoor markets, large retail stores and recommended when you cannot maintain a 1.5m distance from others. Gathering capacities lifted to 30 indoors and 100 outdoors.
31 December 2020-Due to NSW outbreak, household gatherings are reduced to 15 and masks are mandatory indoors when not home.
18 January 2021-Mandatory mask wearing eased further to public transport, rideshares, taxis, shopping centres, indoor markets, large retail stores, domestic flights, airports and hospitals, and recommended when you cannot maintain a 1.5m distance from others.
3 February 2021-Victorian hotel quarantine worker test positive to coronavirus. Masks are now mandatory indoors when not home.
12 February 2021Students will return to remote learning 16-17 February, 15th a pupil free day. School events and sports falling in the 5 day lockdown are cancelled.Coronavirus cluster grows to 14. Victorian government announces 5 day hard lockdown.
18 February 2021Students return to school.Mandatory mask wearing eased further to public transport, rideshares, taxis, shopping centres, indoor markets, large retail stores, domestic flights, airports and hospitals, and recommended when you cannot maintain a 1.5m distance from others.
27 May 2021Students will commence remote learning 28 May.Victorian government announces 7 day lockdown.
4 June 2021Students return to on campus learning-
15 July 2021Students will commence remote learning 16 July.Victorian government announces 5 day lockdown. It is extended by 7 days on 20 July to Tuesday 27 July.
28 July 2021Students return to on campus learning.Victorian government ends lockdown. Some restrictions such as mask wearing and no home visits remain.
6 August 2021Students return to remote learning.Victorian government announces 7 day lockdown.
9 August 2021-Victorian government ends the lockdown early for Regional Victoria from 10th of August. Some restrictions such as mask wearing and no home visits remain.
10 August 2021Students return to on campus learning.-
21 August 2021-The Victorian Government announces a lockdown for Regional Victoria from 1pm due to a worsening outbreak of the Delta variant in Regional Victoria. Restrictions now match that of Metropolitan Melbourne.
23 August 2021Students commence remote learning.-
8 September 2021-The Victorian Government announces the end of lockdown for most of Regional Victoria from 10 September and the easing of some restrictions.
10 September 2021Students from Early Learning, Foundation to Year 2 (inclusive) and Year 12 (as well as Year 11 students studying Unit 4 courses) return to on campus learning. All other year levels continue remote learning.-
19 September 2021-The Victorian Government releases their Roadmap to deliver the National Plan. Expected vaccination rates inform the easing of restrictions and reopening dates. City of Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast and Mitchell Shire enter a seven-day lockdown commencing at 11:59pm on Sunday 19 September, with restrictions the same as those in the City of Ballarat and metropolitan Melbourne, excluding the curfew.
5 October 2021Term 4 commences with mixed on-campus and remote learning arrangements in line with government directives until 26 October. Students from Early Learning, Foundation to Year 2 (inclusive) and Year 11 and 12 return to on campus learning. Year 7 resumes on campus 11 October. All other year levels continue remote learning and return to campus part time until 26 October when full time on campus resumes.-
22 October 2021All year levels return to campus full time.The Victorian Government brings forward return to on campus learning for all students, with all to return 29 October (announced 17 October).

History in the Making

During the COVID-19 Pandemic technology would play a key part in the College and it's community as staff, students and families kept in touch with each other "virtually". Staff meetings and classes were held using new tools such as Microsoft Teams. Emails and video calls helped everyone keep track of school work and tasks.

At Middle and Junior Schools learning packs were also distributed to students. Not only were the students learning remotely, but there was some play too. Middle School Chess continued to run, just online. The Middle School also ran a MS Iso Master Chef challenge, with students sharing their skills in the kitchen.

Senior School Parent Teacher interviews transitioned to MS Teams. The Senior School Parents Association will also host a "Distance Dinner Party" at the end of May, via Zoom.

The Community Choir continued to sing, via Zoom.

In April the Student Wellbeing Triple R program launched a new blog "What Works and What Matters"
There are two themes. What Works: Share those ideas, tips and advice that have helped you keep yourselves sane and your children motivated. What Matters: What has changed for you, maybe what reflections you would like to share about how your thinking and priorities have shifted during this time of uncertainty or something great that has made you happy (it’s amazing how little things now make us happy). - Joan Gill, Director of Student Wellbeing – Programs

The College also reached out to their community in other ways. A "Message of Hope" Easter story was one of the first initiatives, a short video shared before the Easter school holidays. Anzac Day was commemorated a short video shared with the College community.

For the Old Geelong Collegians, planned reunions were replaced with sharing old school photos on the OGC Facebook group.

The Music Department held its first Online Music Competition at The Geelong College. Over 100 entries were received, and they ranged from Prep all the way through to Year 12, on all instruments. The winners were announced in June and include:

M-TV: Jupiter’s Last Right (Y9 Band)

This Is My Song:
Classical Song: H. Phung (Y9)
Contemporary Song: M. Gilby (Y11) and U. Shao (Y12)

Websteddfod:
Classical: J. Zhang (Y12), S. Visser-Hodson (Y5), M. Kweh (Y6), O. Abraham (Y3) and W. Zhang (Y1).
Musical Theatre: S. Horne (Y9) and M. Johnson (Y7)
Contemporary: G. Nurnatis (Y11), H. Agar (Y4), A. Hasan (Y3), B. Nadorp-Daw (Y8) and O. Howkins (Y4)

Days like these

The COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted everyday life for communities across the globe, restricting movement and activities, as well as the health, of many. In the history of the College, wider society events have also impacted school life, such as:

Spanish Influenza global pandemic

World War I & II

Other events, such as the Boer War and Vietnam War would be at the forefront of people's minds but would have less impact on the everyday running of the school. Instead those Old Collegians who served in the Boer War are remembered on a plaque mounted in the Dining Hall. During the Vietnam War there were a number of fundraising appeals for related causes, and a honour roll was added to the Memorial Foyer to commemorate the Old Collegians who served.

In the early days of the Great Depression, following the Wall Street Crash in 1929, the College did not feel the initial impact of the slowing economy. By the end of 1930 the Principal was reporting on the importance of vocational guidance for the students in the face of reduced employment prospects. During this time there was an increased interest by students in Economics subjects.

Infectious diseases have long been a concern for the school, and over the years prior to vaccinations the school dealt with outbreaks of measles and seasonal flus etc. The outbreak of measles would be taken very seriously and the ongoing issue of polio from the 1930s to 1950s was also a threat.

Polio 1937: During a peak year of polio cases in Australia, the College undertook measures to prevent the spread of polio through the College community. In 1937 as the national cases grew the September school holidays were cancelled and leave timetable altered. Boarders stayed on campus and classes continued in a less formal way with class-free Wednesdays. When Term 3 commenced, the leave restrictions continued and the sports and examination timetables modified. The football season was cut short with the final two rounds abandoned. The Boys Charity fund raised money for the Infantile Paralysis After Care.

See also Days Like These in the June 2020 Ad Astra.

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