Katoomba High School is working hard to "triage" the needs of the 97 per cent of its students who are now working from home due to the coronavirus.
Principal Jenny Boyall said about 70 of their 912 students don't have the internet at home or access to their own computer.
Teachers have had a busy week delivering photocopied packages of work to these families (the same content as online) and also supplying 15 of their own school computers to homes without them.
The school is in the process of getting "dongles" for those without internet access and more computers from the Department of Education. A computer had also been donated by a community member.
"There are families that are tracking quite well ... but there has been some challenges around technology, some students don't have wi-fi or a computer," Mrs Boyall said.
"Some families are really struggling, people have lost jobs, have reduced shifts, a lot of families are in crisis. We are all about equity and access, no child being disadvantaged with the balance of their well being - we are living in unpredictable times," she added.
A "package about wellness" was posted out to all students' homes this week to let students know they were being "thought about and missed". The care package contained a pack of hot chocolate and a letter from Mrs Boyall surrounded by yellow smiley emojis.
"The school is not the same without you," the letter reads. "The corridors are empty of your laughter and smiles, and although we are communicating with you via emails, phone calls and various technological devices it is just not the same."
Mrs Boyall said she had had many positive responses, including from one student who said it "brought a big smile to our faces and made our mum cry".
Katoomba High closed its doors on Friday March 13 after a staff member was diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. It was intensively cleaned that weekend and reopened on the Monday. The staffer has since recovered well and is at home.
The NSW Department of Education has kept schools open for those who cannot look after their children at home. Mrs Boyall said 22 students were still physically attending. NAPLAN exams for next month have been cancelled, but the HSC exams are going ahead.
HSC governing body NESA [the NSW Government Education Standards Authority] has released guidelines that principals have discretion to modify the number of tasks and weighting of tasks given the current circumstances but mandatory HSC group performance exam in Drama and ensemble performance exam in Music Extension have been cancelled.
- The NSW Mental Health Line for all ages is 1800 011 511 and the Kids Helpline is 1800 55 1800.
