Principal Report

Principal Message Week 3 Term 3

I would like to start by saying thank you for your support, encouragement, commitment and perseverance in ensuring the return to remote learning for the children has gone to plan. 

Your support is vital and crucial and I want to take this time to acknowledge the role you have played and will continue to play in your child’s remote learning experience this term.

Without a doubt, it is a very difficult time for everyone and the challenges of working from home whilst supporting your child/ children inevitably can cause a great deal of stress on families. Throughout the first experience, I maintained the view that wellbeing trumps all and I am reiterating this, second time around. Because there will be days when things will just do not go to plan when motivation is low when lethargy sets in and everyone is just over it. Your family’s wellbeing has to come first. Over the past week I have constantly used these two words with staff- flexibility and adaptability – they are key. Decide on what works for you and your family and know that we support you in this. You are doing an extraordinary job and with the support of one another, I am confident we will get through Remote Learning 2.0.

Once again, I have been amazed and inspired by the adaptability and resilience that our children have shown. Within no time they have adjusted to the remote learning space. I know you are there in the background supporting but I am amazed at the ease in which they have settled into their new normal. I am always honoured to be invited to Zoom sessions. Just seeing all those eager faces and hearing their voices makes it clear why as teachers we value relationships so dearly. Our school is a very different place without them, it doesn’t have the same heart and soul. It is during those morning Zoom sessions, even with the initial chaos, you see the impact of having this time to connect and why it is so vital for our children and their wellbeing. Their excitement and joy during these sessions is a delight to see. Further to this what stands out to me is how the children are engaging with their learning experiences and the smaller group sessions. The technology, whilst not always hassle-free, certainly allows students to communicate their learning and understandings more creatively and with greater agency. We saw it last time and were floored by how children embraced this mode of learning. For some, it was like opening Pandora’s box; providing us with greater insight into each and every child as a learner.

Our community is what makes us so special and it is wonderful to see this alive and well. We are the ‘Little school with a big heart’ and each time I log into Seesaw or join a Zoom meeting I feel that wonderful and intangible sense of connectedness and belonging that outwardly permeates our school. Wellbeing is central to who we are and to see our children smiling, actively participating and wanting to engage and be engaged is truly remarkable.

So, I thank the children, the staff and you for ensuring that our school and our community continue to grow and learn from one another despite the challenges of these unprecedented times. Knowing this gives me great joy and hope for the days ahead.