Peter Corkill
Principal
Dear Parents, Students and Friends of John Monash Science School,
I have chosen to use the same text in my final Update to Community on Compass, in this final newsletter of the year.
After what has been an incredible year by any measure, this Friday sees the last day of the 2020 school year. The end of term four has seemed a long time coming, but despite whatever odds we faced as a school this year, there is never a reason to wish good time away. So here we are, at last.
Reflecting on the year, and despite the challenges and in many cases the crises across the State, our country and indeed the world, much has been learned, much has been built, much has been given, and much will be remembered.
Reflecting on our Covid year, I would like to focus now on two things: Achievement and Gratitude.
Firstly, Achievement. What do we know now we didn’t know before? What can we do now we didn’t think we could before?
1. We know we can teach effectively online, and students can learn effectively online. Whilst none of us would wish this medium to ever become the norm, it does offer some unique benefits and experiences. Many of our students have been able to concentrate better, more students have been able to contribute proactively and regularly to lessons both in person and via chat feeds, and learning from home enabled many of our students to get some respite from lengthy travel. Teachers have found innovative ways to engage students, provide feedback and co-construct solutions to problems with students.
2. Students can lead and create engaging opportunities online. Our student leaders, in the entirety of their roles, led on line with enthusiasm, creativity and passion. This included the Student Parliament and its multiple committees, student clubs, sporting groups and our wonderful musicians. House points accrued like never before, and there was never any excuse to be bored. Diploma points for leadership and participation accrued at a rapid rate, and I hope this continues with momentum into 2021.
3. Our ‘heart n soul events’ can run online. Consider the following list: Most of our whole-school assemblies, the Battles of the Bands, Harmony Day, Presentation Night, the Year 12 Graduation. And as a result we now have a more permanent record of these events, over and above the printed programs. Just in case you missed Presentation Night, it can be accessed via the following link on YouTube:
No doubt as you will all read this list you will be reminded of others. I am notorious for compiling incomplete lists, but I think this is still a good start.
And now, Gratitude. What are we genuinely thankful for? It’s a really big question, but I thought I would try and cover it using my own perspective. Let me tell you all CEOs, all Principals, all Ministers, in fact all leaders, are grateful to be where they are now, with the Covid19 challenge seemingly met. Nonetheless very few of us are completely confident we won’t see another wave, but we are confident enough that our collective contribution as Victorians and Australians has earnt a very decent reprieve, if nothing else, and hopefully a wonderful Christmas and holiday break with our families and friends.
In terms of my own perspective as Principal, let me share with you all what I am truly grateful for:
- My wife and three daughters, whose unwavering love and encouragement help keep me going;
- My colleagues in leadership at JMSS, to Sally, Andrew and Alison in the school’s Executive, our Leading Teachers, and everyone in the teaching or education support staff, who did their respective jobs so well. They looked out for one another, and kept each other going. They helped with ideas and suggestions. They had each others’ backs, and they got everyone to the finish line;
- Our School Council, our Parents and Friends Association and our wider parent community, who kept our students going, who gave them belief when it started to wane, and whose genuine love and support saw each and every one of our students get across the finish line. This ‘invisible army’ behind every student got each and every one of them though. A smile, a hug, a push, a cuppa, a lift to school or home, just being there despite the challenges of your own jobs. It meant the world to each and every one of our students;
- Our colleagues at Monash, who worked with us all year and made sure we had what we needed, despite whatever it took, and despite how hard it got. Most of you will not know these people, but from Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Kris Ryan and his Academic Liaison team, to our many colleagues in Buildings and Facilities, to our colleagues in the Faculties of Science and its many schools, Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Information Technology, Education, and Engineering – a huge thank you. Thank you for your help, advice and genuine support, while you were facing the most enormous challenges yourselves;
- Our colleagues in the Department of Education and Training, especially from our Inner East Network of schools, our North-East Victorian Region, and those senior officials in HQ in town who really looked after us when it mattered most.
4. Collation of the Updates to Community for 2020
I have finally managed to put all of the Updates and the articles of interest into the one place for those of you who have been asking and are interested. The main reason for this is that the Updates are no longer accessible on Compass after five weeks. The link to this archive is ion the website here - https://jmss.vic.edu.au/community/covid-19-updates/
I hope you will all enjoy tracing our journey again. It has certainly been a very big year, but I think we can all be proud of how we met the challenges and came through them as well as we believe we have.
Have a wonderful Christmas and new year, please take care and stay safe. A sincere thanks to each and every one of you for helping shape, guide and strengthen JMSS in this most challenging of years.
Regards,
Peter Corkill
Principal