A BENDIGO primary student has penned a message of hope and thanks to teachers and peers as students return to learning from home.
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It's also a message of hope for everyone "in these tricky times".
Kennington Primary student Layla Turton wrote the poem at school the day before the return to stage three restrictions.
With thousands of other central Victorian students Layla is learning from home, with the support of her teachers and her parents.
She hopes people will remember that everyone helped during the coronavirus pandemic, and that together "we will finish this".
The poem begins with a description of the challenges coronavirus poses.
Layla writes:
This is the time of COVID
It's not an easy time.
I hope that this is over,
Before next year does chime.
I want to come to school,
And see all of my friends.
I hate going into lockdown,
I want this time to end.
Layla then goes on to thank her teacher and staff at school who made learning easy.
She ends on the hopeful note:
I'd like to thank everyone,
In these tricky times,
Together, we will finish this.
Thank you for being kind.
Mum Megan Turton said Layla had spoken a lot at home about missing everyone at school. Mrs Turton said she really appreciated how much the teachers were doing to try and educate children.
"They talk a lot at school, and we talk a lot as a family, about being kind, thinking about people who are doing it tough at the moment," Mrs Turton said.
"It's really wonderful that at the school a lot of the dialogue ... is about being kind to each other and working together, and going through the tough times, but looking to the light at the end of the tunnel as well."
Ultimately Layla said she wanted people to remember the scientists were working hard to discover a vaccine, and everyone needed to help to stop the spread of coronavirus.
"Together we will end this and scientists will discover a vaccine," she said.
But the words coronavirus and vaccine don't rhyme with much, so she used more simple words.
Full poem, by Layla Turton
This is the time of COVID
It's not an easy time.
I hope that this is over,
Before next year does chime.
I want to come to school,
And see all of my friends.
I hate going into lockdown,
I want this time to end.
I'd like to thank my teacher,
And all the staff at school,
You made learning easy,
So now learning is cool.
Now we are in lockdown,
We need to learn from home.
That means less support,
Plus much more time on Chrome.
So if you are in need,
Of urgent help or care,
Remember our schools,
And all the people there.
I'd like to thank everyone,
In these tricky times,
Together, we will finish this.
Thank you for being kind.
What's learning from home been like for your children? The Bendigo Advertiser would love to hear from them, whether it be words or artwork. Send any contributions to addynews@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.