SACC News

Continuous Online Learning for Prep - Year 9 Students Returns in Term 3

Remote Learning 2.0 has begun with a huge effort from staff and parents. This time round we have tried to increase the amount of face to face, live interactions with our gorgeous Junior School students basically because we miss them so much. 

The Year 3s and Year 4s are having some Zoom lessons, just like the Senior students and they have been amazing at engaging and learning in a different way. The Prep students have even been having “Show and Tell” over Zoom, including some very intense games of “Man in a Box” which is really something to behold. 

I would like to encourage all our amazing parents who are again supporting their children as they learn on line. All the work you do is ultimately an act of worship to God who called you and most importantly equipped you to do it – no matter what kind of work it is. 

Hebrews 13:21 says God will “equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”

The knowledge that we do not do any of this alone but that God himself equips us is a great encouragement. We are praying every day for you all and your amazingly resilient children.

May God keep you safe.

Mrs Yvonne Hughes

Head of Junior School

Resilient Year 12s

It’s a concept that we try to instill into our children and students from a very early age; the “how to bounce back” when things don’t go as expected. As a school we often talk about how to build resilience into our students in a range of situations: social, emotional and academic, among others.

The students in the Senior School have been given a tough test of their resilience (so have teachers and parents!). I have been amazed at the character that our St Andrews students have displayed during this school year. This has been typified by our Year 12 students. These students have missed some of those “milestones” that normally mark a final year of schooling including their camp and some other community events. 

As a school we are consistently reevaluating ways we can provide for some fun and memorable experiences for our Year 12s. In the ever-changing landscape of rules and restrictions this year has afforded, we have yet to put many of these plans into action—but we look forward to the possibility of celebrating later in the year.

Year 12 students have surely demonstrated resilience. They are the ones continually pushing to complete their schoolwork when it has to be done online. They eagerly adapt to new social distancing regulations, wiping tables down before each class, wearing masks, temperature checks and more! I feel encouraged (and sometimes convicted) by our students that if they can handle the changes that 2020 throws at them during an otherwise stressful time—then surely, I should be able to as well!

So to those students, and parents, thank you! Thank you for your patience, encouragement and support of our school community this year. I feel more confident than ever that our Year 12s will leave this school with a resilient spirit—ready to tackle any challenge which will come their way.

Mr John Presant

Head of Senior School

Parent News

Independent Schools Victoria have created “The Parents Website”  https://theparentswebsite.com.au/ to provide resources for parents to assist their children during this period of remote learning. 

The following points gleaned from the site, along with some additions, may be of assistance:

The gift of gratitude

Parents can help children acknowledge their gratitude – for home, family, friends, opportunities to learn, and hopefully, good health. The loss of ready access to these can be a powerful lesson in appreciating what perhaps was taken for granted before lockdown. 

Gratitude is increasingly recognised as a powerful factor in promoting resilience and wellbeing in children and adults alike. Learning to pay regular attention to what we have, rather than focusing on what we do not have, can inoculate us from negativity and promote optimism.

This truth is nothing new for those who know their scripture. 

The Bible contains numerous references to gratitude:  

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.", 

Psalm 100: 4-5 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”, 

Colossians 3: 16-17 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

The importance of organisation and time management

Self-management skills have been a great challenge for some children during home-based learning and their parents may have seen first-hand how their child struggles with distractions, has a poor sense of time, doesn’t have what they need for lessons or never records homework tasks. Remote learning may have resulted in your child missing prompts from teachers and other students and has subsequently exposed your child’s positive opportunity to develop enhanced organisation and time-management skills.

These micro skills impact academic progress and achievement across all ages and parents are key in their development.

Using a diary every day, getting books and other materials ready for the next day, proactively managing distractions and having an effective routine are the habits that every student needs to acquire. While some will struggle with these executive functions, when parents scaffold, model and explicitly teach these skills, their children will reap the benefits lifelong.

The advantages of student agency

The importance of proactively asking teachers for help is another vital aspect of student agency that has been highlighted during remote learning. The questions below are a simple framework to teach your child, no matter what age:

• Do I know what tasks I have to do?
• Do I understand what order I need to do the tasks?
• Do I know how to do each task?

If the answer is ‘no’ to anyone of these questions, encourage your child to ask their teacher, either online or in person.

As a College, the teaching and support staff are here to assist all students in their learning and know that with your support we will successfully navigate this period of remote learning.

Michael Swanborough

Head of Learning and Teaching

Outside School Hours Care News

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