Students will begin to return to school from October 18 after more than 100 days in lockdown, and some parents have mixed feelings.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Learning from home has brought its own set of challenges, but with no vaccine approved for under-12s some Illawarra parents are worried about the balance of risk to benefit.
Oak Flats dad Mark Peever has three children in primary school, and said he worried for them.
"Personally I think every kid should be vaccinated - kids with underlying problems need to be protected," he said.
"Kids touch each other when they're playing around and could easily pass something on.
"I know my kids are really missing their friends, they have so much energy and they need that socialisation, I'm just a bit worried if they catch something."
Mr Peever said his children's school had done a great job of providing home-learning resources, but he was keen for them to be back in the classroom environment.
However, with one child in year one, one in year four and another in year six, he knows it's not going to be easy to get mask-wearing right all the time.
I know my kids are really missing their friends
- Mark Peever
"I wear a mask all day and it can be difficult for me, so imagine a little kid doing that," he said.
"I'll definitely get them vaccinated when they're available. Vaccines save lives."
Berkeley mum Brittney Lawrence agreed.
"I'll be sending my kids with masks, and I know the school will have precautions in place, it's just getting the kids to understand and follow those precautions," she said.
Two of Ms Lawrence's three children will return to school in coming weeks, and they both have different opinions about it.
"My youngest really wants to go back, but my eldest has learning difficulties and he feels a bit 'what's the point'," she said.
"They understand the COVID situation but it's been confusing going to school, then learning from home and back again.
"I know the transition is going to be hard - my youngest is in kindy, and it's like day one at school all over again for them.
"I hope the government is making the right decision."
School returns will start on October 18 for kindergarten, year 1 and year 12 students as part of a three-week re-entry. Other grades will return on October 25 and November 1.
The Illawarra Mercury news app is now officially live on both iOS and Android devices. It is available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play.
