From the Executive

Supporting Remote Learning

Welcome back to Term 2! But not as we know it. We are all faced with a challenging world, a new reality, a mountain to climb –  the biggest we have seen for a long long while.

One thing I know, our teachers – as professional, skilled and caring a group as can be found – are pulling together with a spirit and resolve that is inspiring to watch. It’s no easy thing, to change what you have done for so long, to learn new skills so rapidly, to grow and take risks. We will make mistakes; but we will have way more successes. We will try new things; some will fail, some will not work ideally, but many will enable us to continue to deliver our curriculum in a planned and strategic way, albeit remotely.  For that is our plan; to continue to deliver our curriculum, as best we can, to all levels.

You can expect that learning outcomes will be modified, practical subjects will make alterations and even deletions, timing and sequence will change, assessments will be modified; but at the core, to the best of our ability, we will enable our students to continue to learn the essentials to the best of their ability. And with our group of teachers – that’s saying something.

Of course, this is a massive partnership. Teachers, students and parents. We have put together a one page snapshot of a students’ day, with tips to manage online remote learning at home. That is attached to this newsletter if you haven’t already seen it. And of course we know this will be challenging at home. Both disruptive and stressful. Understanding there is no magic bullet, here are some ideas for parents to support their sons at home.

1. Help your son(s) to understand and develop a mental image of work time and space, and recreational time and space.
2. Help them to develop a positive mindset. Accepting of the situation, not resisting. They may well not want to study at home, but most unfortunately they need to.
3. Talk openly about the situation; the consequences and the opportunities of learning from home.
4. Encourage the setting of goals. Small goals, daily and weekly. Small manageable chunks are much easier to deal with.
5. Help them set up the best study space you can in your environment. Keep it neat and organised, with the things they need at hand.
6. Help them to develop a timetable of lessons, study and play. Build routines.
7. Take an interest in their study, be available to discuss their work and progress.
8. Have a small daily goal or activity in the household not related to school.
9. Have some reward time out and activities, perhaps on weekends, for the family to celebrate the week’s successes together.

Its certainly a tall order, and a work in progress. But working together we will come through; and no doubts we will grow and be better for the experience. Many things are possible – maybe we will all be a more skilled, or more resilient, or more independent, or more motivated, or more able to hold onto a routine, or more self confident or more curious.

Good luck in the term ahead. Please feel free to be in touch if you have questions or concerns.

Mr Noel Jenkinson

Deputy Principal - Curriculum