GEORGE NEWS - School attendance resumed at Life Christian Academy like many other schools on Monday 8 June, but the coronavirus effect was striking. The mood among the little ones was somewhat subdued; the usual energetic excitement and schoolground buzz lacking.

It is a whole new way of going to school.

Only half of the Grade 3s and Grade 4s were in class. Principal Chrisna du Preez said each grade has been divided into two groups who will attend class on different days. "The one group will come to school on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and the second on Tuesday and Thursday. Next week they will swop around, so that every two weeks they get a full week's tuition while we can also practise social distancing."

In two weeks' time the Grade 1s and Grade 2s will also return to school. "We wanted to see how it's going under the current circumstances before letting all the children come back in one go. The parents and children are all very committed, but uncertain. We are all uncertain, but we are not stressed about getting through the curriculum. Our teachers have come with their lessons worked out for the rest of the year. The most important thing is for us to ensure our pupils are relaxed, motivated and positive so they can enjoy being back at school."

Strict social distancing and hygiene protocols are in place with sanitisers at hand and each pupil having received two face masks. They wash the mask they have worn for the day and hang it up at the back of their chairs before going home with a clean mask, said Du Preez.

LCA is an independent school founded by Life Community Services in 2018.

Khazimla and Alizwa Xhongo at their desks, far apart. Social distancing and masks are part of Life Christian Academy's measures to keep their children safe.

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