Principal's Report
Remote Learning 5.0
Does it get easier or harder? There is no right or wrong answer to the question. We could easily argue either way. In my mind though, which way you argue is going to depend on your previous experience.
Some would argue it gets easier from the point of view of remote learning being a positive experience for them. Others would argue it gets harder from the point of view that the more times we repeat something that causes us difficulty, the harder it is to front up again.
I will admit to writer’s block when trying to put this newsletter article together having just been informed of the seven-day extension to the current lockdown.
So, I dug into last year’s newsletters and chose the following excerpts because they ring as true in lockdown 5.0 as they did in any previous lockdown. They also helped me reflect on how I am doing and what more can we do together.
Best wishes
God bless.
Michael Delaney
Principal
What can I do? Especially, in this COVID – 19 world.
21 July 2020
We can often feel useless and overwhelmed by the enormity of the problems of the world; especially at times like now when so much of the world news contains COVID – 19 anxiety and uncertainty.
I recall once reading a story that went along the following lines. Repeating it here may help some of us.
Two people were walking along a beach that had thousands of dying jellyfish washed up onto it. As they walked one person began picking up jellyfish and throwing them back into the sea. The other person asked, “Why are you bothering to throw any jellyfish back into the sea. You can’t possibly save them all.”
“I know.” replied the first person.
“Then why not leave them all if you cannot make a difference?”
“You tell that to this one” said the first person picking up another jellyfish and returning it to the sea.
My apologies to the original author (whom I cannot recall) for any liberties taken with this story. The point is clear though; we need to do what we can for as many people as possible in our day to day lives.
Remote Learning 2.0
5 Aug 2020
I would like to acknowledge the smooth way that we this week prepared for and began our second round of remote learning. Thank you to everyone, families, staff and students for this.
We learnt much from our first period of this and I am certain that we will all do a better job this time around.
These are difficult times, and it is important to keep in mind that the overriding priority is to keep all of us safe. Educators, like all other essential services workers, are asked to do the best they can to continue to provide that essential service. This is not easy, and we say thank you to all essential services workers, not just schools’ staff members.
Best wishes everyone, and remember: Communicate, communicate, communicate. Let us know your joys and concerns so that we can celebrate the successes and help with the difficulties.
Commitment, Persistence & Courage
1 Sept 2020
In recent weeks, as we have settled into the routine of Remote Learning 2.0, I have been consistently amazed at the commitment, persistence and courage shown by most members of our Catholic learning community, staff, students and carers.
The famous Greek writer of tragic plays, Euripides, who was born in about 480 B.C., made this statement about courage, “This is courage in a person: to bear unflinchingly what heaven sends.”
During these COVID-19 times, there have been numerous examples of staff, carers and students taking the opportunity to display courage in their lives and/or encouraging others to do so in theirs.
At times like these we see in these examples how:
• to truly take ownership of our life and live it fully.
• to push ourselves beyond the limits of what is comfortable and familiar,
• to keep connected to what inspires us in life; to pursue our dreams.
• to avoid social conformity; to be who we truly are, a fully authentic me.
• to deal positively with setbacks and failures; to persevere with determination
