Christel House puts stringent safety measures in place for return of students
Author: riaan@wecanchange.co.za
Christel House South Africa, a non-profit school which provides 100% scholarships to students from some of the poorest communities on the Cape Flats, welcomed its Grade 7’s and 12’s back to school on Monday, 1 June, with stringent safety measures in place
Based in Ottery, Cape Town, Christel House SA has heeded the call of the Department of Education to re-open its doors to its 60 Grade 7s and 47 Grade 12 students and has done so under strict hygiene and safety protocols.
The entire school was sanitised before students arrived and plans were put in place well in advance for the reopening of the school. On the first day back to school, students received masks and pre-packaged meals; temperature testing and screening took place; classrooms, buses and toilets were sanitised; and students received a full brief on safety and social distancing rules.
The school does not only offer free, quality education but also provides a safe haven for students. Christel House SA provides various poverty mitigation services, including daily transport to school and back, nutritious meals and professional health care with two full-time nurses and a clinic on site, as well as social workers and counsellors should they require assistance.
“I am happy to be back and see my friends. I was also having difficulties with studying at home, whereas at school we have a different environment. I can concentrate better here,” says Jabulile K., a Grade 12 student at Christel House South Africa
Students who are in other grades will continue to follow the academic curriculum from home. Junior School students use workbooks, help from parents and bits of content shared by teachers via WhatsApp, whilst High School students make use of donated tablets, which are loaded with weekly data bundles.