Around The School - Mr Flynn, Assistant Principal

I would like to extend a very warm welcome back to all our students and staff members. Over the last few weeks our staff have been busy preparing for the full return to school and even though it is a week or so earlier that we first thought, it was wonderful today to see our brand new learning spaces filled with students and hopefully now we can settle into our learning back at school as our lives begin to return to normal.

The importance of 'student voice' as we return to school and classroom learning

The past 3 months have been unlike anything that any of us have experienced before and hopefully ever will. As our students return to school full time, they bring back with them a broad range of learning and social experiences over the COVID-19 isolation period.

Upon this return as a staff we thought it extremely important to acknowledge these experiences and provide students with the opportunity to voice their feelings and experiences through a student survey filled out by students in Stages 2 and 3 using Google Forms.

The collected responses to questions were then analysed by the whole staff to enable us to gain a deeper understanding of their different social and learning needs as they return to the classroom. One of the questions asked was how do you feel about being back at school?

Listed below are some of the answers given to this question from students in Stages 2 and 3.

"I like being back at school because I can learn better."

"I feel happy because I get to see my teachers and friends."

"I feel really reassured that I can now socialise with my friends again, and I can finally get back to my daily school routine."

"I feel fine because it's just like normal but I feel a little nervous because I have not seen every one."

"I like being back at school because I have the teachers there helping me and speaking to me in person."

SchoolTV Website

The Catholic Schools Office of Armidale has purchased the following student wellbeing platform for all the schools in the diocese. Below is a blurb from the SchoolTV website about this fantastic resource, which is now available to everyone in our school community to use. There will be more information regarding this resource over the coming weeks.

SchoolTV is a world first, wellbeing platform featuring Dr Michael Carr-Gregg. It addresses the modern day realities faced by schools and parents who increasingly need clear, relevant and fact-based information around raising safe, happy and resilient young people.

Whilst there is a great deal of information available, this can often be confusing and overwhelming for parents looking for guidance. SchoolTV addresses this issue. It is an online resource designed to empower parents with credible, sound information with realistic and practical strategies.

Below is the link to the St. Joseph's School TV website

https://stjosephstamworth.catholic.schooltv.me/

Have a wonderful week everyone,

Pete Flynn

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