Matriculants will only resume with physical classes in June, Angie Motshekga, minister of basic education, announced on 30 April. PHOTO: Christiaan van der Walt
Paul Roos Gymnasium has expanded their efforts to help their matriculants in dealing with stress due to the adjustment of online learning.
Although most learners seem to cope with online learning, even their strongest learners sometimes feel overwhelmed, said Andre van Staden, principal of Paul Roos Gymnasium.
The school now has a subdivision on the school’s website called Covid-19, that offers students more support, said Van Staden.
“It provides guidance for both learners and parents regarding our learners’ mental health,” said Van Staden.
Learners can also receive online therapy from the school’s psychologist through this subdivision, he said.
According to Monique Barnes, the counselling psychologist at Paul Roos Gymnasium, Barnes focuses on educating matriculants on how to manage their stress.
“I encouraged our matric learners to maintain a healthy balance at home, which not only focuses on physical health like daily exercise, but also mental health,” Barnes said.
This includes connecting with peers, talking to others about what they might be experiencing and having a set daily routine, said Barnes.
The school’s teachers are also supporting learners academically through distance learning, said Barnes.
For instance, teachers play the role of facilitators in sending out various psycho-educational information about the management of stress, she said.
An open line of communication is key in keeping learners calm and focused, said Gerrit Conradie, the grade 12 physical sciences teacher at Paul Roos Gymnasium.
“I think we really communicate well with our learners and parents. We also listen to the criticism we receive,” said Conradie.
Even their strongest learners sometimes feel overwhelmed, said Andre van Staden, principal of Paul Roos Gymnasium. PHOTO: Paul Roos Gymnasium/ Facebook.
The positives
According to one matriculant Jacques Mieny, one of the positives during the lockdown is when the school posts some of Paul Roos Gymnasium’s greatest moments from the past.
“Every day [Paul Roos Gymnasium] posts a video of memorable moments through the past few years and sends it to groups,” said Mieny.
The school has also had live videos on Instagram with springbok rugby player Damien Willemse, and South African high jumper Breyton Poole, in efforts to inspire students, Mieny said.
Matriculants would only resume with physical classes in June, according to an announcement by Angie Motshekga, minister of basic education, at the end of April.
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