From our Principal

Dear Parents, Students and Friends,

I hope our students in particular have had a restful break and returned re-energised and with a sense of hope as we begin to look forward to the return of face-to-face teaching.

I spoke to staff this week about what the return to campus teaching might look like and I can assume that there is much preparatory work happening. I find it useful to consider this return to be much like pre-season training in sport. You cannot hope to reach peak performance unless there is a significant period of pre-contest conditioning. Students (and staff) have in effect not been present in the physical classroom space. Both staff and students are going to need a period of transition and re-learn the routines and strategies of the the classroom. This pre-season training or conditioning will need to include re-training in areas such as classroom rights and responsibilities, punctuality, attendance and uniform. Most importantly though, it will be critical to ensure students re-train themselves in being an active and engaged learner in the classroom. Teachers will be there to be the coaches and ensure the pre-season leads to students being game-ready as soon as practicable.

Our School Wide Expectations will be the primary driver. Our ROCKS. The universal expectation that each community member is Respectful,  Organised,  Collaborative,  Kind and  Safe.

The priorities with a return to the classroom will therefore be based around three major criteria which I have coined here as the three R’s:

• Reconnect – a priority on students reconnecting with each other will be critical to ensuring students happiness. The reconnection with friends will be significant. Importantly though the relationship between teacher and student will also be essential to ensure students feel comfortable in their learning spaces.

It was John Hattie, renowned academic who stated: “It is teachers who have created positive teacher student relationships that are more likely to have the above average effects on student achievement”.

• Re-establish Routines – students have been used to getting up late, eating when they want, dressing as they want. There will be an adjustment phase where students may initially feel constricted by the rigidity of the timetable and bells. Staff are aware of this and we will be working with individuals to ensure positive patterns emerge.
• Renew student passion to learn. Many students have lacked energy and motivation at times during remote learning. Now is the time for students to re-engage in their learning. We, as a teaching staff, will be working hard to reignite student’s passion for learning.

A reminder of the Roadmap ahead

Mask Wearing, both indoors and outdoors will be mandated for all except those with a medical exemption.

A Word about Year 12s

There would be few who disputed the fact that this cohort of senior students have had the most challenging of times as they have navigated through their senior studies. Year 12s will be completing their final day next Thursday, 21 October 2021 and I wish to pay tribute to their resilience and "never give up" attitude. At times their energy levels and commitment to their studies has waned, particularly when day after day they have been asked to learn in front of a screen for long periods of time, but seldom have they complained. They have just got on with the job and made the most of their circumstances. Congratulations to all.

I have no doubt these years will hold them in excellent stead for their future pathways. I strongly believe that if our Class of 2021 can succeed given the last two years, they can succeed in anything they put their minds to.

Year 12s have yet again been asked to pivot as their traditional graduation celebrations are put on hold until the examination program concludes. We look forward to welcoming them back and fare welling them properly.

High Achievers

Finally, congratulations to some outstanding academic achievers who have now completed the University Accelerated Program for 2022. These outstanding students include:

Stay safe and Stay well.

Mr Chris Black

Principal