Mount Gambier's Tenison Woods College grapples with COVID-19 outbreak

Tenison Woods College's principal says the school community is coping well, but teachers are feeling the strain of the outbreak. (ABC South East SA: Jack D Evans)

One of South Australia's largest regional Catholic colleges is grappling with a growing COVID-19 outbreak.

More than 150 cases have already been recorded within Mount Gambier's Tenison Wood College 1,500-student population, with 10 staff also testing positive.

College principal David Mezinec said COVID cases had spiked over the past seven days and the number of teachers in isolation was putting pressure on over-stretched resources.

"In the first couple of weeks there weren't many, then half a dozen in week three," he said.

"Week four, we started to be in the 40 space, and then, you know, quite a number in the past seven days."

Mr Mezinec said teachers were working hard to overcome the challenges.

"Those who are away are doing great work, doing what they can online with students from home," he said.

"Then we have other teachers who are helping out supporting classes while there's online instruction.

Mr Mezinec says the college will continue to follow its protocols and stay open as long as possible, but hasn't ruled out a shift to online learning. (ABC South East SA: Jack D Evans)

Systems in place

Mr Mezinec said over the past two years the school had adopted a health, hygiene, distancing and learning strategy to help manage the spread of COVID.

"Following that strategy there's distancing, mask-wearing, outside instructions are being participated in, and we also have purifiers in rooms," he said.

Tenison Woods College is also limiting large gatherings, has created clear separations between the four sub-schools and will hold its annual award ceremony virtually.

"Reducing large events – even though we are able to hold them outdoors – was just another way to mitigate against the risk of COVID taking a stranglehold in our school community," Mr Mezinec said.

Mr Mezinec said the sports day scheduled for this week would go ahead because it would be held outdoors.

He said students studying from home were being supported by the Connected Tenison strategy, the school's online learning system.

Mr Mezinec hoped to keep in-person lessons going for as long as possible, but said that could change.

"It will depend on how the cases evolve further as to whether we go online," he said.

"I understand the government is very committed to keeping the schools open.

"It may well depend on the ratio of teachers that are available to be in front of classes.

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