Alba News

From the Principal Class Team

Dear Parents and Guardians

Coronavirus Update

As we put this newsletter together in the midst of this time of uncertainty and increased levels of anxiety due to the worldwide spread of COVID-19, we remind the community of the importance of staying connected. 

 

The St Albans Secondary College community is based on a premise of connect, protect and respect (CPR).   It provides an environment where we care for and support one another.  Now, more than ever, we need to keep the community connected and protected from what is proving to be a once in a lifetime event. 

 

We are working with our families to ensure students can access the education we are providing, and that support and processes are in place to look out for each other and to monitor the wellbeing of all those in the St Albans Secondary College community. We have kept you as up to date as possible as new information has become available, and we will continue to do so throughout the coming weeks. This week, as the school holidays started for our students, we put the first stages of our action plan into place. 

 

The planning and preparation carried out by the staff meant we have been able to run Year 12 double lessons for every class in the final week of term as we commenced an early start to the holidays.  This enabled us to provide guidance to Year 12 students regarding holiday homework, support available, and the resources they might need.  It has allowed us to reassure students that classes will run and work will continue to be monitored and assessed with feedback provided by teachers.

 

We want to reassure all in our community that we will continue to run a quality education program for all of our students, regardless of whether we are physically at school, or running a virtual classroom model.  The staff have completed a great deal of preparation and professional learning to ensure they are ready for the start of Term 2, including in the event that we are not able to return to the school campus for any length of time.

 

We would like to thank the staff for the dedication and commitment they have shown in this ever-evolving environment. All staff including the facilities team, teaching staff, wellbeing team, educational support and cleaning staff have risen to the challenge and adopted a can-do attitude.  This has not only been inspiring to be part of, but has shown how people can rise to the challenge and work together as a unified community.

 

We would also like to thank our students for continuing their commitment to the educational program and adhering to a range of new restrictions including social distancing.  They have shown good humour in the face of cancellation of events, including camps and excursions, and have generally adapted to the unfolding processes we have needed to implement.

 

It is very important that families have access to devices and the internet so that students can access online content, and can interact with their teacher and peers.  We are identifying where we can assist families in this area.  We have a school equity program where eligible students can borrow a laptop for a refundable deposit.  We have also sourced some repurposed laptops for sale at a low cost to families. 

Please contact your child’s Coordinator via email as below if you would like more information about accessing assistance for internet or devices:

There has never been a more important time for you to ensure you are able to access the school’s Compass portal and that your children have access to the internet.  For those of you unsure how to access the parent portal, please contact the general office and they will be able to assist you.