Principal Message Week 2 Term 4

School just wasn’t the same without children and this week we were absolutely delighted to welcome back all our children to onsite learning. Monday morning felt incredibly like the first day of the 2020 school year all over again. You could literally feel the excitement and anticipation as the children entered the school grounds. I don’t think we have ever seen smiles so big!

The return to school has gone extremely well and the children have adapted very quickly to the new ‘COVID normal’ for school. As I outlined in the return to school letter, Flexischools 9 October, we have made yet again some significant adjustments to our school operations to be able to maintain physical distancing at school and to support the health and wellbeing of students and staff.

This has meant rearranging classroom spaces and putting in place procedures and protocols to maintain hygiene, social distancing for adults and safe drop offs and pick-ups. Overall, I feel this week has gone extremely well and the children have adjusted to the new routines and to the return to school with minimal effort and ease.

I would like to thank staff for the preparation that has gone into this return to school. Many things needed to be done and planned prior to Monday to ensure this transition went smoothly. Great consideration has gone into planning for their wellbeing and learning. It was wonderful to see the children so excited to be back in the classroom and engaging with their friends, teachers and learning experiences.

I think for many the highlight has certainly been seeing their friends and being able to play. That bond and those connections means so much to children and never more so than now. It was definitely timely that stage two of our new playground was finished. The children absolutely love it! The new nature play areas provide yet another dimension. Its inspiration came from the children themselves, providing many more parts to explore and interact with. They have had a terrific time experimenting and trying new things throughout the week - really giving gross motor skills a workout.

The remote learning experience was without doubt challenging but it has also provided us with great insight into your children and the way in which they learn. We know some children flourished; they loved the autonomy, independence and flexibility. Others found the experience a little more difficult to access and navigate but none the less gave it their absolute best effort. We have had the rare opportunity to discover new things about the children we teach, to see them in a different light and through a different lens. And just like the children we, collectively teacher and parents, have also gained valuable insights about ourselves as learners and risk takers. This has highlighted the significant role we play in our children’s learning.

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

-Francis of Assisi

I would like to walk away from this second remote learning experience thinking that we have gained more than we have lost. Rather than starting from a deficit perspective, I would argue that the remote learning experience has provided our school with a rare insight into each child that we can now build upon. It is this shared experience that will strengthen the relationships, connections and learning for all at St Columba’s.

We have learnt so much and now we need to ensure that we take all the good parts with us into the remainder of the year and beyond as a community.

In memory of

It is with great sadness that I write of the passing of Maria George late yesterday afternoon.

I know many of you have will have had a long association with Maria through the parish, baptisms, weddings , school and much more. During her time at St Columba’s she touched so many of our lives and gave so much of herself to supporting us all.

On behalf of the school community, which she loved dearly, I send our condolences to Maria’s family. She will be greatly missed but remembered for her generosity of spirit and love for her calling.

The family has asked should you wish to express your sympathy, Maria was a passionate supporter and advocate for the Brigidine Asylum Seekers and a donation in her memory would be appreciated.

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