Principal Report
Principal Message Week 4 Term 3
It is hard to believe that only 3 weeks ago I was writing to welcome you back, filled with optimism for all the things we had planned for term 3. Since then, we have navigated lockdown 5.0, a return to school and now we are in lockdown 6.0. Without a doubt, these past 4 weeks have been quite the ride!
I don’t think any of us were expecting to be heading into remote learning so soon after the last time, but here we are. I think after the last experience we are perhaps less daunted by the process but none the less it is still a challenging and frustrating time for us all. As I sat down to write this, I was reminded of a webinar I attended last year that Dr Lea Waters gave. She surmised that over the next few days there will be many emotions that we will experience. Once we pass the initial shock and chaos, we will start a period of integration until our new normal once again settles in and the way ahead looks brighter. I know there will be ups and downs and there will be moments where we just want to throw our hands up, but what gives me great conciliation is that we have done this before, and I know we will pull through again.
COVID-19 is having an unprecedented impact on our lives and will continue to do so for some time to come. Now more than ever we need to pay attention to our own and our children’s well-being. We are living in a time of great uncertainty and with that comes greater anxiety. It is important that we address this for ourselves and our children and ensure that we provide them with support, reassurance, consistency and continuity. We can do this by establishing a sense of connection and community spirit and by focusing on generosity and togetherness, things we do well as a community.
Having to shift between school and remote leaning within a very tight timeframe does not come without significant challenges. I feel very fortunate in the knowledge that we have a dedicated staff and a committed community because, without this, the quick turnaround to remote learning would be a much more difficult and daunting prospect. I am very proud of the way in which we have responded as a school community to the COVID-19 crisis.
I am very grateful for the support that we have received from you, our community and I am indebted to staff for their ability to adapt and respond, but I am most proud of the way in which our children have embraced their new ‘normal’. It is their resilience, flexibility and adaptability that continues to amaze me and despite the challenges, I know that they will continue to grow as we navigate this period of time.
It is with a tinge of sadness that I must announce that I have decided to postpone the musical until later in the year. With the disruption to the term and to our rehearsal schedule, it is impossible for us to go ahead as planned in September. Instead, we are aiming for November 24 and 25th. Hopefully, by then restrictions will have eased and we will be able to gather in greater numbers. I know the children will be disappointed, but this is going to give us greater flexibility given the uncertainty and more time which at this stage we need. I have promised them that whatever happens in the future the show will go on!
Given the unpredictable nature of things now, I would also like to thank you in advance for your understanding when it comes to planned school events. All planned dates will be subject to restrictions, and we may need to cancel at short notice. Given our return to remote learning, I wish to inform you that our planned school closure day Friday 13 August will not go ahead instead this will be a normal school day if all goes to plan.