school council 

Hi BNWPS Community,

Last night School Council met. I want to thank the whole School Council team for their passion and commitment. As much as we all feel like we are stumbling to the end of term, the team were online and smashed out a 3 hour meeting which was highly insightful, included some challenging discussions and achieved some important outcomes. 

We were blessed to have 3 more members of JSC present who were extraordinary and presented the work of the JSC team over the past month. This included; how to make the complex issues and language of mental health resonate with kids, feedback on the amazing experts week and what Prep-Y2 need to make T4 successful. Such insightful feedback and so capability and skilfully led by Jenni Wheatcroft.

We reviewed the leadership team plans for T4 (thrilled to hear that Hannah will have some presence in T4), our capital works tender process was a brilliant success (we will be able to do more works in the main/old building than we originally planned), the impacts on camps and excursion (so sad for all our kids to miss these opportunities in 2020), reviewed the updated Sentral app (please, please update your app and get ready for T4), talked about membership of Council and Committees (BNW WANTS YOU! Join Council or a Committee.) and started to prepare for 2021 (all inputs must be submitted by mid November to plan events and budgets for next year).

We talked extensively about the Roadmap for T4 return to face to face education (Prep-2) and what remote learning V3 looks like (years 3-6). The school continues to listen to feedback and respond with changes to the way the remote program is delivered to achieve the best outcome. We heard these issues vex every school at every level and there is no “right” answer to deliver remote learning. I am heartened the Leadership and Teaching Teams at BNW continue to finesse and tweak how remote learning is being delivered, with the goal of enhancing the experience for our kids.

As we approach the end of term, I have been reflecting how difficult the past weeks and months have been. My sense is there is a cumulative impact with this lockdown, where the constant knocks I have been experiencing build and build, and yet I feel there is little relief in sight. Work challenges, not seeing family & friends, financial worries, negative media, winter, etc; and then throw into the mix kids at home and remote learning! It all adds up to a recipe where I look for an avenue to release my frustrations. And this is the challenging bit; who or what should bear the manifestation of my frustrations? As I’ve said many times this year; this is when it’s so important to be gentle and kind on myself and those around me. Everyone is doing their best and everyone has their own trials.

Enjoy the mid-term break and we look forward and hope for a wonderful T4. Our thoughts are with everyone. 

Sam Cohen

School Council President

e schoolcouncil@brunswicknwps.vic.edu.au 

m 0412 375 061