The first hurdle towards returning to physical classrooms has cleared with schools across the region each registering an increase in campus attendance.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The sharpest growth in attendance occurred at the Lutheran College, where an average of 70 students attending each day in week 1.
In the last two weeks of term 1, the school saw only 13-18 students every day or roughly five per cent of its student population.
The school is still monitoring how it will achieve a soft return to classrooms on May 11. But principal Peter Weier told The Daily Advertiser the decision would be based on state health advice.
"I don't think there would be a school or teacher across the board who wouldn't want to be back in class," Mr Weier said.
"But we don't want to put our community at risk. We want to manage an effective, safe return to school, that's our duty."
Related:
The Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga (CEDWW) recorded 444 students attending classes in the final week of term 1. This week, across the diocese area there have been more than 900 students in classrooms.
"In line with government advice, our schools are open and operational for children of essential workers but where practical, parents are encouraged to keep their children at home in weeks one and two with a phased return from week 3," said a CEDWW spokesperson.
With a student population of 600 students across primary and high school, Wagga Christian College has maintained small numbers this week.
On each day the school saw 65-85 students in classrooms. At the end of last term, there were roughly 50 students across year levels.
Related:
The school announced on Wednesday that it would encourage all year 12 students to return on May 4.
The rest of the school will return full-time from May 11, but online learning provisions will be made for families that choose to keep their children at home.
The NSW Department of Education did not provide The Daily Advertiser with attendance numbers for the city's public schools.
But a spokesperson confirmed 87 per cent of the state's students continued learning from home in week 1.
Students will return one day a week from May 11 via individual rostered plans.
"Schools are open for any student who needs to attend, the overwhelming majority of parents are continuing to keep their children home as schools manage a return to the classroom," the spokesperson said.
Year 12 students at The Riverina Anglican College will begin returning to school from week 2.
But the school did not provide The Daily Advertiser with any further information on how many students have been attending.