Schools in Victoria are currently closed for school holidays, a two-week break before the final term. But for year 12 students who are preparing for the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), it is a tense period, already projected towards the final "rush".
Geelong teacher Federica Cologni, who migrated from Italy to Australia as a child with her parents, tells SBS Italian how this decidedly unusual year, marked by two long periods of school closure, has impacted teachers and students.
"It's an unusual experience: I've been teaching VCE for many years now, and I've never faced anything like this," she admits. "This year [students] have faced more challenges."
In addition to the difficulties associated with teaching and learning online, the students have had to give up a series of rites of passage typical of the last year of high school.
"At the moment the students try to concentrate a lot on their studies (...) but even the idea of not knowing if the graduation will take place or not certainly weighs on them," says Ms Cologni.
Nataša Ciabatti is a teacher at a public high school in Footscray, Melbourne, which is among the most multicultural schools in the country. This year, she is teaching a final year class, a group of students already knew very well from the previous years.
The main difficulty they encounter, she observes, has to do with the sense of isolation.
Francesca Brand misses her soccer team Source: courtesy of Francesca Brand
"All the kids miss school. The thing they complain about most is not seeing friends, and partly also teachers; there is certainly no social interaction."
The Victorian capital has experienced two lockdowns, and according to Ms Ciabatti, there was a noticeable difference between the first and the second one.
"The first lockdown did not actually go badly, on the contrary, especially with Year 10 and Year 12, that is with the older kids, it was possible to do more than in class because the kids were less distracted by classmates," she says.
"It's the second one that has truly tested us, I would say. Especially in terms of motivation for the children but also us teachers; it was difficult to keep up the enthusiasm and propose activities that motivate them to study."
However, despite the undeniable fatigue caused by the second lockdown, she notes that Year 12 students continue to work hard, spurred on by the approaching final exams.
Francesca Brand (18) is preparing for the VCE this year. In the private school she attends she is one of the school captains.
Nataša Ciabatti teaching online Source: courtesy of Nataša Ciabatti
"It is a strange year to be a school captain," she says. But the role allowed her to proactively help her fellow students facing additional challenges of distance learning and isolation.
"We focussed on how to keep positive, on the importance of mental health and of expressing our feelings when we don't feel well. Young people and boys especially, find it very hard sometimes to express their feelings when they feel lonely," she says.
She describes a typical day of remote learning at the time of the coronavirus. "We use zoom, we do all the classes online (...) it's like a normal day, but at home and without friends."
Francesca admits that this year marked by lockdowns was not a walk in the park.
"It is difficult because you are always alone, and you have to motivate yourself. I like playing football, for example, and I have not been able to in these last few months," she tells SBS Italian, adding that she was driven to tears some times because of the challenges.
While the Victorian government has signalled there will be special consideration for VCE students, Francesca is slightly concerned about her final results.
"We hope our ATAR will reflect well what we have done this year."
However, she also finds some positives, particularly in being home with her family and sharing more time with them.
"Normally we are all always out and about, but now we can be together, eat delicious dinners, make fresh pasta at home."
Francesca feels lucky that her parents and brother have been actively supporting her, but the family member who helped her the most is her dog, she adds laughing. Walking with him and cuddling him provided her with a much-needed respite from hard work and social isolation.
In another area of Melbourne, Gianluca Henry is also preparing for his final exams. Gianluca moved to Australia three years ago with his family, originally from the Italian city of Bergamo, and attends a public school.
At the beginning of the pandemic in Europe, he anxiously followed what was happening in his hometown that was among the worst affect areas in Italy.
Gianluca Henry studying from home Source: courtesy of Gianluca Henry
"Unlike my fellow Australians, I was already very anxious about the coronavirus in February-March because I saw how the situation had quickly degenerated in Italy," recalls Gianluca.
"Being from Bergamo, I know many people who have had the virus or have lost family members, and therefore that period was not easy. But now, thank God, Bergamo is also recovering."
For Gianluca, who learned English as a second language, Year 12 promised to be a busy year right from the start. However, the lockdowns have made the task even harder, also because of missing a series of important and highly anticipated stages, such as the graduation, the final ceremony that he thinks unlikely to take place.
"It's a pity because these are memories that you carry with you throughout your life, the graduation - the last year of school, and certainly we feel sorry not to have lived them. But we know that we are not the only unlucky ones," he says.
"Throughout the world, people have lost a lot, including in Italy. There they have not even managed to finish the school year. At least we are lucky because we have the possibility of returning to school during the final months."
The prolonged periods of isolation have had a dispiriting effect on Gianluca. He feels he is ready for the exams but says he might have been able to prepare better at school.
"Being at school in the afternoon, comparing notes with classmates, those are things that are hard to do online."
Despite the difficulties, according to Federica Cologni, who teaches Year 12 students, 2020 had some positives.
Federica Cologni recognises this year had many challenges but brought with it also some positives Source: courtesy of Federica Cologni
"There was a lot of optimism among the teachers, among the colleagues, we helped each other a lot, and this was a great thing. We got to know the students in a different light, seeing them online from their home, we saw cats, dogs as guests, canaries," she recalls with a smile, and adds: "surely there is a different bond between us teachers and many of our students".
She hopes that gradually all students and teachers will be able to return to school after the school holidays are over.
Whatever happens, the Geelong teacher has some tips for students preparing for exams.
"It's natural to feel under pressure right now, the only thing we can do is to do our best, and that's enough. Our best can mean many different things depending on where we are and who we are with."
"The other piece of advice I would give is: talk to your teachers. We often can't imagine the situation you are in, and it is important that you communicate it to us so that we can help you. So, talk, talk to your teachers."
Listen to the feature in Italian:
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Year 12 ai tempi del coronavirus: studenti e insegnanti raccontano
SBS Italian
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