Principal's Report
Principal’s Report - 17th September 2021
Hello again to the wonderful Lyndhurst community. I returned from leave last week and, I have to say, my head is still spinning a bit getting back into the workday and to the restrictions in Victoria. I’ve spent the last 10 weeks in Queensland, especially in the far north where, for many communities, COVID has hardly been a factor. It was a welcome breakthrough. We explored much of the far north coast and the hinterlands, missing a large part of the Melbourne winter along the way.
A Big Thank You
A very big thank you to my marvellous leadership team for “holding the fort” in my absence. It’s not an easy job to slip into acting leadership roles, especially with lockdowns and the reintroduction of remote learning. Jamie Sharp and Moira McCann capably shared the Acting Principal role and the rest of the leadership team supported them, as I knew they would. It is such a relief to know that I can take my long service leave in the full knowledge that I have such capable people back here at school.
Holidays
Of course, the school holidays are almost with us and I know many of the children will be ready to take a break from the pressures of remote learning. Parents too, I suspect! We can only hope that, after the announcements of some small relief to restrictions today, that cases continue to ease and we can all get back to something like a normal life again. I’m not sure about the return of students to face-to-face learning straight after the holidays. My best guess is that we will see a continuation of remote learning for a short time, followed by a staged return to face-to-face learning. That, of course, depends of all of us doing the right thing and following the rules put in place by the health authorities.
Vaccinations for Children
Of course, it also increasingly relies on a large portion of the community getting vaccinated. I know there are controversial views about vaccination not helped by massive amounts of confusing misinformation. There has been an announcement that children from 12-16 years are now eligible to be vaccinated and information will be sent to parents about this in due course. That means most of our year 6 students will be eligible and perhaps even some of our year 5’s. Parents, I know, will be thinking carefully and weighing up the benefits of vaccination and I urge you all to listen to the educated and informed opinions of the health experts and not to the ravings of a vocal minority. To support this, I have linked a recorded presentation from the Royal Childrens’ Hospital on exactly this subject. A panel of paediatric experts from the hospital answer many of the questions parents may have about vaccinations and COVID for children. It is a reasoned, balanced, and well-informed program for parents and I urge everyone to view it. It is linked below.
Effects of COVID-19 on children's physical health
Replacement Teachers
In the last couple of weeks, the leadership team here have been working hard to find replacements for the teachers who are heading off on family leave soon after the holidays. I’m happy to inform the community that we have been able to recruit wonderful replacement teachers for 2D and 3D. The official process dictates that I cannot tell you who they are right at the moment but I am very happy with the teachers who will take over these two classes next term.
NAPLAN
Most of our years 3 and 5 students received their NAPLAN results recently and I have heard that some students have had some “extra pressure” placed on them from parents as a result of that. I’ll make this brief and to the point. NAPLAN is one test on one day. It is simplistic and narrow in its’ scope and unhelpful diagnostically. The tests were in May. The results came in August. Most Principals and educators give little credence to NAPLAN tests as a true indicator of the abilities of an individual student. We do NAPLAN because we must, not because we want to. Understand that the progress of an individual is complex and not linear. If you really want to find out how your child is progressing, talk to their teachers who has a wide range of assessments, checklists, work samples, etc at their disposal. The professional judgement of a quality educator is always better than a standardised test. Things are tough for our kids at the moment. The last thing they need is grief over NAPLAN results.
Footy Colours Week
Finally, as we head off to the holidays, it’s been great to see that COVID hasn't dampened the enthusiasm of our football fans and I, for one, am looking forward to a cracking grand final! Our footy colours week is just one example of how our teachers and students have adapted to the “new world” in which we find ourselves. My team, the Bombers, didn't get very far in the finals but I wish the Bulldogs and the Demons, all the very best. I do feel so sorry though, for the Melbourne and Western Bulldogs fans won’t be able to see their teams in Melbourne.
Finally
In speaking to a Principal colleague recently, his comment was interesting as we discussed how everyone was coping in lockdowns 5 and 6. His comment was, “Some people are showing the stress by doing and saying things that are completely unexpected and out of character.” It is interesting how differently the effects of stress and exhaustion can show themselves and it is often those who are closest to us, whether at work or at home, who cop the brunt of that.
It was RUOK day last week and, to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure any of us can really say that we are OK. In this extraordinary time, maybe the best we can do is say, “I’m not OK, but I will be because things will get better.” Did you ask someone if they were OK last week? Did they just say, “Yeah, I’m fine.” Did you dig deeper? Did you ask if they were REALLY OK?
I read an interesting article about the impact that the 24-hour news cycle and social media are having on our psyche, our view of the world, our view of the people around us, as well as our view of ourselves. It is true that, although the media talks incessantly about mental health, they only feed our anxieties, our uncertainties, our frailties, and our worries. They do little, if anything, to ease them and to support our mental health.
In these holidays, think about getting your family to take a break from the bad news, the negative social media, the chat groups, the messenger groups, ………… the endless negativity. Talk to each other. Talk to your children. Show gratitude. Practice it every day. Meditate and be mindful. Practice that every day too. I do!
In all that is going on, we still have so much to be grateful for, so many blessings. When I say, look after yourself and each other. I really mean it. Reflect on how your stress and anxiety has affected you and how that may have impacted those closest to you. Reflect on that, but then forgive yourself and commit to being a better you. If someone close to you has “done or said things that were completely unexpected and out of character”, forgive them and commit to helping them to be a better version of themselves.
We will get through this. Things will get better. But they will only get better together.
I know most parents understand how important you are in the lives of your children and the critical role you play in helping this generation of children survive this pandemic mentally well and healthy. Your children take the lead from how you manage and react under stress. Your calm, measured approach reassures them that everything will be OK.
Enjoy your break. Make this break all about you and those closest to you. Return to us in term 4, mentally healthy and well.
Things will get better.
Greg Lacey